Sony apologises for KBC question ‘disrespecting’ Chhatrapati Shivaji after Twitter row erupts
India

Sony apologises for KBC question ‘disrespecting’ Chhatrapati Shivaji after Twitter row erupts

Hashtags like #BoycottSonyTV and #Boycott_KBC_SonyTV were trending on Twitter after users alleged Sony TV had insulted Shivaji Maharaj by referring to him without his title.

   
KBC controversy

A question in Sony TV's KBC referred to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj by his first name | Twitter

New Delhi: The Amitabh Bachchan-hosted Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC) faced some heat after a question on the quiz show referred to Maratha warrior Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj as Shivaji, resulting in an apology from Sony TV.

The offending question, which featured in KBC’s Wednesday episode, asked: ‘Which one of these rulers was a contemporary of Aurangzeb?’ Among the answer options were Maharana Pratap, Rana Sanga, Maharaja Ranjit Singh and Shivaji.

By Thursday morning, people on social media began criticising Sony TV, the network that owns the show, disrespecting the 17th century Maratha warrior. Soon enough, a Twitter hashtag was generated as demands for an apology also grew.

BJP leader Nitish Rane said Sony TV had insulted Shivaji Maharaj by referring to him as just Shivaji.

The hashtags #BoycottSonyTV and #Boycott_KBC_SonyTV did the rounds, with calls for the audience to boycott the channel.

People even questioned the patriotism of Sony TV and the writers of the show.

Many users also raised an objection on calling Shivaji Maharaj a contemporary of Aurangzeb.

 


Also read: On KBC, Amitabh Bachchan asks about pressure cooker, and media puts Chidambaram in it


‘Inadvertent error’

Sony TV issued an apology after the controversy erupted, saying the “inaccurate reference to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj during Wednesday’s KBC episode” was “due to inadvertence”.

Sony also said they carried a scroll expressing regret.

This too didn’t go down well with many, who said putting out a scroll wasn’t enough and demanded an apology from Bachchan during the show.


Also read: How KBC and Big B killed a good show with wife jokes and inane questions