Punjab bans TV serial

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Saturday ordered immediate ban on the telecast of the controversial TV serial 'Ram-Siya Ke Luv-Kush', which has sparked protests by the Valmiki community.

Singh also warned against any attempt to disturb the state's peace and communal harmony.

Acting on the chief minister's orders, deputy commissioners across Punjab started issuing the notification banning the telecast of the serial by cable operators in their respective districts, according to an official release.

The Valmiki community had on Saturday called for a bandh, during which a youth was shot at in Jalandhar but was later operated upon.

Endorsing the Valmiki community's stand on the issue, the chief minister also wrote to the Government of India to instruct the direct-to-home service providers to stop the telecast of the serial.

The state government will not allow peace in the state to be disturbed, he said.

Nobody would be allowed to hurt the religious sentiments of any community or take law and order into their hands, he warned.

Any responsible producer should refrain from producing or launching such a programme/serial, Singh said, adding that his government respects the religious sentiments of every community and would ensure that the serial is not telecast in the state.

He has asked the DGP to ensure strict vigil and crack down on disruptive elements.