Nepali cable operators ban screening of Zee's Buddha serial

Nepal's Cable TV Association Sunday banned screening of the inaugural episode of a Zee TV serial on the life of Buddha, opposing the claim that he was born in India.

Millions of Nepali households could not watch the hour-long episode, whose broadcast began from Sunday.

Other programmes of Zee TV went on as schedule.

According to ban on Sudhir Parajuli, chairman of Nepal Cable TV Association said, screening the 'Buddha' has been imposed there was huge reaction against it on social sites and it may hurt the sentiments of Nepali audiences. “

There was huge outrage from Nepali users on Facebook and Twitter about the "Buddha" serial and its claim that the Buddha was born in India and his entire upbringing took place in the northern part of India.

The association said it had also informed the Nepal government and the Indian embassy here about its decision. The government did not react to the ban.

After the issue emerged on social media and attracted wide criticism, actor Kabir Bedi, who is playing a lead role in the serial, apologized on Twitter.

"Yes, my friends, I mis-spoke. Forgive me. Lord Buddha was certainly born in Lumbini, Nepal. My apologies to all whose feelings were hurt," he tweeted.

As the issue of the spot of the Buddha's birth has become an international issue, the Nepal government - to persuade its own citizens and world community - has decided to issue notes of denomination Rs.100, featuring Lumbini, the birth palce of Buddha featuring Ashoka Pillar on the front of the notes where it will be mentioned "Lumbini: The Birth Place of Lord Buddha".

The Lumbini site has been declared a world heritage site by UNESCO, which says: "The Lord Buddha was born in 623 BC in the sacred area of Lumbini located in the Terai plains of southern Nepal, testified by the inscription on the pillar erected by the Mauryan Emperor Asoka in 249 BC."=

Source: http://cablequest.org/news/cable-news/item/3180-nepali-cable-operators-ban-screening-of-zee-s-buddha-serial.htmlSource: http://cablequest.org/news/cable-news/item/3180-nepali-cable-operators-ban-screening-of-zee-s-buddha-serial.html