MUMBAI: Upping the ante against the participation of Pakistani contestants Veena Malik and Begum Nawazish Ali in Bigg Boss, cable operators have decided to black out Colors in Mumbai, Thane and Kalyan on request of Hindu activist party Shiv Sena.
 
Colors has already been switched off in many pockets of Mumbai, several cable operators said. The others will follow suit before the controversial reality show goes on air at 9 pm today.

“All cable operators are switching off the channel in Mumbai as per Shiv Sena‘s request," CODA president and Scod18 director Ganesh Naidu told indiantelevision.com.  
 
Digicable has decided to switch off the signals in the whole of Maharashtra, said a senior executive.
What has irked the operators is the participation of Abbas Kazmi, lawyer of Azmal Kasab, the terrorist who attacked Mumbai.

Shiv Sena leader Anil Parab said, "Bala Saheb (Thackeray) is opposing the participation of Pakistani players in the show since the beginning. The channel has not paid any heed. So now we have appealed to all the cable operators, who have agreed to our request to switch off the channel from tonight. Starting with Mumbai, the signals will be shut in whole of Maharashtra."

When contacted, Colors’ officials refused to comment.