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The plea also stated, “The individuals with the Name Bhola and Shankar are depicted as hijackers in the miniseries which has the potential to propagate the false notion that Hindus are prone to extremist behavior, which is not based on actual facts”.
A public interest litigation was filed before the Delhi High Court, on Monday, by Surjit Singh Yadav - a farmer, social worker, and President of the Hindu Sena seeking to cancel the certificate and immediately ban the Netflix Series ‘IC 814: The Kandhar Hijack’ from public exhibition for its portrayal of terrorists involved in the 1999 Indian Airlines hijacking.
The PIL, filed through Advocate Shashi Ranjan Kumar Singh, stated that the series did not disclose the identities of the terrorists but rather referred to those terrorists as Chief, Doctor, Bhola, and Shankar. The plea claims that the use of the names ‘Bhola and Shankar, which are the names of Lord Shiva, hurts the religious sentiments of Hindus.
The plea further stated that “The distortion of the crucial facts about the real identities of the Hijackers not only misrepresents historical events but also perpetuates harmful stereotypes and misinformation”.
The plea also stated that filmmakers, including producers, directors, and actors, are constitutionally obligated to ensure that religious sentiments and beliefs are not disturbed in any way. The plea stated that the Indian Constitution establishes a society founded on secularism, recognizing the country's multi-religious nature and therefore promoting harmony, integrity, and social order, mutual respect for all religions is essential.
Additionally, the plea stated that due to the failure to disclose the true identities of the terrorists responsible for the 1999 hijacking of Indian Airlines, and instead referring to them as Bhola and Shankar, the miniseries inaccurately represented the events. By depicting and attempting to portray a different group as the perpetrators, the series reinforced negative stereotypes about the Hindu community. The plea stated, “The Miniseries portrays Hindus as hijackers which has a potential to propagate the false notion that Hindus are prone to extremist behavior, which is not based on fact”.
Furthermore, the plea stated “Films and media are often taken as factual accounts by the general public, especially if they are presented in a documentary-style format. Misrepresenting key details can distort historical understanding, making it harder for people to grasp the true nature of events”.
Case Title: Surjit Singh Yadav v Union Of India And Central Board Of Film Certification and others
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