BJP leaders demand a ban on ‘Tandav’ for hurting Hindu sentiments

Friyana Munshi

Mumbai, January 17, 2021: According to BJP MP Manoj Kotak, the Tandav web-series contains anti-Hindu content and attempts have been made to hurt Hindu sentiments. Kotak has sent a letter to Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar regarding the matter and has demanded action on websites.

Another BJP leader Ram Kadam has lodged a complaint with Mumbai police. “Filed complaint against Tandav Web Series at Ghatkopar police station. Police has assured quick investigation, FIR under Sec 295A of IPC, Section 67A of IT Act & Atrocities Act.Producer, Director, Writer, Actors & Amazon to be summoned soon”, Kadam, who is MLA from Ghatkopar, tweeted.

“Why is it becoming a trend amongst films and web series makers to demean Hindu gods? Latest culprit seems to be the series #Tandav. #SaifAliKhan again part of a film or series which attempts to target Hindu deities. Director Ali Abbas Zafar needs to remove that scene which mocks Hindu God Shiva. Actor Mohd Zeeshan Ayyub needs to apologise and Tandav should be boycotted until necessary changes are made. #BoycottTandav“, he had earlier tweeted.

Saif Ali Khan-Dimple Kapadia’s web series ‘Tandav’ was released on Friday. However, a dispute has also begun regarding the series. BJP MLA Ram Kadam has targeted film actor Saif Ali Khan, saying that he has once again become a part of the web series in which Hindu sentiments are being hurt.

He wrote on his Twitter handle, why films and web series are used to humiliate Hindu deities. The latest example is the new web series ‘Tandav’. Saif Ali Khan is again a part of a film or series that hurts the Hindu sentiments.

He said that director Ali Abbas Zafar will have to remove the part that consists of a joke about Lord Shiva from the series. Actor Zeeshan Ayub will have to apologize. Tandav should be boycotted until the necessary changes have been made. 

At the same time, BJP MP Manoj Kotak has written a letter to Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar regarding this matter and has demanded action on websites. According to Kotak, the Tandav web-series contains anti-Hindu content and attempts have been made to hurt Hindu sentiment.

He took to Twitter commenting on the matter – “OTT platforms having absolute freedom from censorship has led to repeated attacks on Hindu sentiments which I strongly condemn. Spoke to hon. Prakash Javedkarji and requested that OTT content be regulated in the interest of integrity of India and we are fast-moving in that direction” 

Nand Kishore Gurjar, MLA from Loni Assembly of Ghaziabad has also written a letter to Union Minister Prakash Javadekar demanding an immediate ban on Tandav Web-series and Amazon. He has also demanded to apply National Security Act on director Ali Abbas Zafar; actors Saif Ali Khan, Zeeshan Ayub and other artists.

The Atmosphere Against The Series On Social Media

A section on social media has started creating an atmosphere against the series. Claims are being made that Hindu Gods and Goddesses have been insulted in this series of Ali Abbas Zafar. People who divide the country have been praised. Because of this, #BoycottTandav has been trended.

In the series, a video of Zeeshan Ayub is being shared where he is acting as Lord Shiva. In that video, Zeeshan is talking about the independence of the campus students. They are saying that these students want independence by staying in the country, not independence from the country. The makers have claimed that this series is not inspired by true events, but this viral scene is being linked to the JNU alumni association and Kanhaiya Kumar.