Delhi: A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed in the Delhi High Court on Monday, September 2, seeking a ban on the OTT series ‘IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack’. The petition alleges that the series distorts facts about the real identities of the hijackers, portraying them with Hindu names, which the petitioner claims is offensive to the Hindu community.
The PIL, filed by Surjit Singh Yadav, a farmer and president of the Hindu Sena, argues that the series misrepresents the hijackers’ identities by assigning them Hindu names like Bhola and Shankar. According to the petition, this misrepresentation not only distorts historical events but also perpetuates harmful stereotypes and misinformation. Yadav has requested the Delhi High Court to direct both the Centre and the Maharashtra government to revoke the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) certificate for the series and ban its public viewing.
The petition asserts that such distortions could lead to public misunderstanding and potential harm, warranting judicial intervention to prevent further dissemination of inaccurate information.
In response to the controversy surrounding the series, Netflix India’s content chief, Monika Shergill, has been summoned by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Shergill is expected to appear before the government on Tuesday to address the contentious aspects of the web series. The summons comes as part of the government’s efforts to scrutinise the portrayal of the hijackers in ‘IC 814′.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issued the directive for Shergill to appear on September 3, seeking clarification on the series’ depiction of the hijackers. This move highlights the government’s concern over the potentially inflammatory nature of the series’ content.
‘IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack’ dramatizes the 1999 hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight IC 814 by the Pakistan-based terror outfit Harkat-ul-Mujahideen. The series has sparked controversy on social media due to its portrayal of two hijackers with Hindu code names, which has been criticized for inaccuracies and potential insensitivity.
The controversy has raised broader questions about the portrayal of sensitive historical events and the responsibility of media platforms to handle such topics with accuracy and respect.
The PIL and the government’s actions reflect ongoing tensions between media representations and historical accuracy, particularly concerning sensitive national events. The outcome of the legal proceedings and the Ministry’s review could have significant implications for how such content is regulated and presented in the future.
As the situation develops, both the legal and media communities will be closely watching how this case influences the portrayal of historical events and the responsibilities of content creators in handling sensitive subjects.
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