GG News Bureau
Mumbai, 2nd Sept. The government has summoned Netflix India’s content head, Monika Shergill, amid escalating controversy over the web series IC 814 – The Kandahar Hijack. The series, based on the 1999 hijacking of an Indian Airlines flight by Pakistan-based terror outfit Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, has faced backlash for allegedly altering the names of the hijackers to “Bhola” and “Shankar.”
Created by Anubhav Sinha and Trishant Srivastava, the web series draws inspiration from the book Flight Into Fear: The Captain’s Story by flight captain Devi Sharan and journalist Srinjoy Chowdhury. The series features actors Naseeruddin Shah, Vijay Varma, and Pankaj Kapur in key roles.
The controversy erupted when hundreds of social media users accused the series of attempting to distort historical facts by assigning Hindu-sounding names to the hijackers. Critics argue that this could mislead future audiences about the identities of the perpetrators, who were originally identified as members of the Pakistan-based terror group.
BJP leader Amit Malviya strongly criticized the series, accusing it of furthering a leftist agenda by whitewashing the crimes of the Pakistani terrorists involved in the hijacking. He highlighted concerns that this narrative could influence how the hijacking is perceived in the future.
The Union Information and Broadcasting Ministry’s summons to Netflix follows these concerns, seeking an explanation from Shergill regarding the controversial portrayal in the series. The incident underscores the ongoing debate over the portrayal of sensitive historical events in Indian media.
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