FTV asks I&B Ministry to lift ban

NEW DELHI: Positioning itself as an international platform for the Indian fashion industry, Fashion TV channel has urged the government to lift the ban imposed on it.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting had on April 1 slapped a ban on FTV, charging it with airing obscene content in programmes such as 'Midnight Hot'.

"Their plea is being examined by the highest competent authority and will be decided soon," a senior ministry official said on Wednesday.

Assuring the government of "strict, in-house vigilance committee" to keep a watch on the content, the channel said "any programme found inappropriate by the ministry will be immediately removed".

In an "appeal" for revocation of the ban, FTV said it "has not violated any programme code."

The channel drew attention of the government to the "fact that we are doing a lot to promote fashion, design and lifestyle and providing an international platform for Indian designers".

Taking a tough stance, the ministry had said "the channel has been banned for showing programmes that are against good taste and decency, denigrate women and likely to adversely effect public morality".

The government had also banned AXN on January 17 but lifted it after the channel apologised.