The OTT channel’s web series showed events such as Babri Masjib demolition in Ayodhya, Operation Blue Star, Malegaon blast, Operation Blue Star and Samjhauta Express blast among others, with distorted facts.
- India Govt bans Pakistani-based OTT channel ‘Vidly TV’.
- Govt alleges OTT platform for broadcasting a web series that was against India’s national security and integrity.
- Ministry of Information and Broadcasting used emergency powers under IT Rules 2021.
The orders to immediately block the platform’s website, two mobile apps, four social media accounts and one smart TV app were issued by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) under the new IT Rules, 2021.
As per the ministry, the streaming platform recently aired a web series ‘Sevak: The Confessions’ that was found to be detrimental to India’s national security, sovereignty and integrity.
Authorities flagged a slew of objectionable scenes throughout the series, which prompted authorities to impose the ban. These objections include:
- The opening credit scene of the series showing the Ashok Chakra of the Indian flag on fire
- The web series, according to the centre, showed a distorted version of sensitive historical events pertaining to India
- Portrayed anti-India narrative on sensitive events including Operation Blue Star, demolition of Babri Masjid in Ayodhya, Malegaon blasts, and Samjhauta Express blasts, among others
- A scene in which a Hindu priestess is urging Hindu children to grow up to kill Muslims, Christians, and Sikhs and cleanse the motherland from their filthy existence
- Several dialogues in the web series were seen as maliciously shown with strong communal tones and illustrating the violence and police action as being inspired by religious reasons
- A TV news grab quoting a fictional home minister that “Muslims, Sikhs and Christians are India’s internal threat”
The MIB order specifically accused the web series of ‘promoting separatism, disaffection, and disenchantment among the Sikh community towards India’ with an intention of sowing ‘hatred and division’ among Indian communities.
