Indian State Gov't Asks Center To Ban US-based Social Networking

New Delhi, Sept 15, IRNA -- Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan has requested the Centre to ban US-based social networking sites which broadcast 'controversial' and 'objectionable' films. 'The Chief Minister spoke to the Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde and sought a ban on such sites which lead to disruption of social harmony of the country, ahead of festivals, ' the PTI reported quoting an official release issued Friday night in Mumbai as said. The release quoted Chavan as saying that the Center was looking at the issue seriously. The ban should come into effect immediately, in view of the Ganesh Festival that starts next week, Chavan told the Center. A film broadcast on the internet, deemed to be denigrating Islam, has sparked off violent protest in the middle-east, with protesters in Libya attacking the US consulate in Benghazi on Tuesday and killing the American ambassador and three other consulate staff. A 14-minute trailer for the video titled “Innocence of Muslims,” was uploaded on the internet depicting Holy Prophet Muhammad (P) in a derogatory manner. According to media reports, the video is a brain child of a 52-year old Israeli-American, Sam Bacile who had received a donation of $ 5 million from 100 Jewish donors to make a movie called “Islam is Cancer.” The documentary film had sparked fury among Muslims around the globe. In India, Kashmir valley and Chennai, the capital city of Tamil Nadu state witnessed protests on Friday./end