The Congress spokesperson Priyanka Chaturvedi has backed the complaints levelled against Netflix over their series Sacred Games for defaming former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.
According to a report in The Indian Express, Chaturvedi said that while freedom of speech is everyone’s democratic right, it should not be used to spread “a whole set of lies”. She also accused the BJP of conspiring in spreading lies for political gains. Referring to the police complaint filed by Rajeev Kumar Sinha, a local West Bengal Congress leader against the makers of Sacred Games, Chaturvedi said that everyone has the right to protest in a peaceful, democratic manner.
Based on Vikram Chandra’s novel of the same name, Netflix’s first Indian original series Sacred Games landed on the streaming service on 6 July. After garnering rave reviews for weaving politics into the plot, it is now subject to litigation.
A complaint was filed against actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui, the producers of the series and Netflix for tarnishing the image of former Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi by Rajeev Sinha, who is part of the West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee.
All India Cine Workers' Association has also filed a complaint with the police to lodge an FIR against the producers and actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui for maligning the image of former PM Rajiv Gandhi.
In his letter to the Kolkata police, Sinha has accused Nawazuddin for "abusing our late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi calling him fattu, which translated as pu*** in the subtitle". He has also alleged that the makers of the show have "misrepresented facts during his regime". The complainant has even slammed the show for “crossing all limits of decency”. The letter urges the police to lodge an FIR under the IT and IPC acts.
The narrative of the show crosscuts between the past and the present and the character of Gaitonde essayed by Nawaz is seen making some irreverent and scathing statements about Congress’ part in the Bofors scandal and the forced sterilisation programme during the 1975 emergency.
The fourth episode, Brahmahatya starts with Gaitonde accusing Rajiv Gandhi of playing politics in Shah Bano’s triple talaq case.
“... Shah Bano ko alag jalaya, desh ko alag. She took her husband to court and won. But the Prime Minister told her to shut up and overturned the court’s judgement. Even Hindus criticised him. To please them, Ramayan, the TV show, aired every Sunday morning when the entire country glued to their televisions,” says the character Gaitonde in the show.
ANI also reported that a plea has been moved in Delhi High Court against Netflix, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Phantom Productions, Vikramaditya Motwane, Anurag Kashyap and GOI for derogatory and abusive remarks against Rajiv Gandhi.
Sacred Games also features Saif Ali Khan and Radhika Apte amongst others. Directed by Anurag Kashyap and Vikramaditya Motwane, the show is a crime thriller.
(With inputs from The Indian Express)
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