What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
The ‘Save Culture Save Bharat’ Foundation, led by former Information Commissioner Uday Mahurkar, has called for an immediate ban on Netflix
NEW DELHI: The ‘Save Culture Save Bharat’ Foundation, led by former Information Commissioner Uday Mahurkar, has called for an immediate ban on Netflix and the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) for broadcasting what it describes as pornographic and sexually explicit content.
Mahurkar, considered close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP, has sent official complaints to the IT Ministry and internet providers to enforce this ban.
In a press release, the foundation stated that the content on these platforms represents “blatant unlawful acts threatening to tear apart India’s character and cultural heritage.” The foundation compiled a dossier of screenshots from sex scenes in Indian and foreign shows and films on Netflix, along with explicit material found on X.
“We believe that Bharat can’t achieve its goal of becoming a great nation & a Vishwa Guru without clamping down on perverted content,” Mahurkar said. He highlighted a direct link between sexually explicit content and increasing incidents of sexual violence, including rapes.
The foundation’s complaint also references India’s 2020 ban on 59 mobile apps, including TikTok, for reasons related to national sovereignty and security. “In the same spirit, we are submitting damning evidence about another serious issue threatening to tear apart India’s roots and rich cultural heritage,” the statement read.
Mahurkar’s complaint to the IT Ministry included allegations that Netflix is unlawfully showcasing content that is “so horrendous, obscene and unlawful that they would not even be approved for screening with an ‘A’ certificate in cinema halls by the Censor Board of Film Certification (CBFC).” He highlighted scenes depicting various explicit sexual activities, claiming that such content is easily accessible to children.
Mahurkar’s complaints highlight several legal provisions allegedly violated by Netflix and X, including:
– Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012
– Indian Penal Code sections 292, 293, and 294
– Information Technology Act, 2000
– Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986
– Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995
– Young Persons (Harmful Publication) Act, 1956
– Cinematograph Act, 1952
– Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008
“Pornographic content on Netflix is hence easily accessible to children whose parents or adult family members have a subscription,” Mahurkar emphasized, noting that many mobile and Wi-Fi plans include complimentary Netflix subscriptions.
The foundation’s dossier includes samples of explicit content from over 50 X users and over 100 films and web series on Netflix. The foundation argues that current regulations, including the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, are insufficient to control such content.
During a press conference at the Press Club of India, Mahurkar called for stronger regulations and proposed that access to explicit content be regulated through an “Aadhaar number or fingerprint or both.” He also demanded that violators be treated with severe penalties, including long prison sentences without bail.
Supporting Mahurkar’s stance, Supreme Court Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, known for his role in the Ayodhya Ram temple dispute, stated, “X and Netflix stand thoroughly exposed for their comprehensive failure and utter disregard of Indian laws and regulations aimed at protecting society from obscenity and sexual exploitation.”
The foundation’s campaign is part of a broader effort to protect what it sees as India’s moral and cultural fabric. “First it was economic, and political subjugation of our people and civilization by invading forces. Now it is mental, cultural and sexual neo-imperialism,” said Ashwani Mahajan, co-convenor of the Swadeshi Jagran Manch, a social movement under the RSS umbrella.
As of now, there has been no official response from Netflix or X regarding these allegations.
