New Delhi: Criticising general entertainment channel Colors TV and the producers of serial Ram Siya Ke Luv Kush for portraying sage Valmiki in poor light, the BJP has sought a nationwide ban on the controversial serial which is facing protests by the Dalit community.
On Wednesday, BJP national secretary Tarun Chugh along with party MP and Dalit leader Hans Raj Hans led a delegation to meet Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting Prakash Javadekar.
The delegation included Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari, MPs Gautam Gambhir, Meenakshi Lekhi, Ramesh Bidhuri, Parvesh Verma and Vijender Gupta, leader of opposition in Delhi Vidhan Sabha.
The BJP delegation told Javadekar that the serial, with its inappropriate portrayal of Valmiki, was hurting the sentiments of people across the country, said Chugh.
The delegation also told Javadekar that not only Dalits but other right-thinking people were also against the contents of the serial, and as such agreed with the Valmiki community, which has been agitating against the serial, the channel and the producers.
“The portrayal in the show is not according to Valmiki’s Ramayana. Historical facts have been twisted about Valmiki and Ramayana,” BJP MP and Dalit leader Hans Raj Hans told ThePrint.
“Luv and Kush have not been shown in dresses according to that era. They have been shown as modern while Lord Ram and Laxman were in exile. How can this be? The serial says the sons of Laxman, Bharat and Shatrughan also studied at Valmiki’s ashram, which is factually incorrect.”
Javadekar assured the delegation that the I&B ministry would shortly take a decision in the case keeping the sentiments of people in mind, Tiwari told ThePrint.
Protests
Earlier last week, the Valmiki community in Punjab called for a bandh in the state to protest against the wrong portrayal of the sage in the television show.
Following the protests, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh ordered a ban on the telecast of the show in his state.
The move came after the Supreme Court last month ordered the demolition of the Ravidas temple in Delhi’s Tughlakabad area, causing a huge uproar in the Valmiki community.
With Delhi assembly elections due later this year, the state unit of the BJP is concerned that the Dalit community’s sentiment against the central government over the demolition can hurt the party’s chances to grab power from the Arvind Kejriwal government.
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Dalit are not insulted in this tv seriaal, dailly basis dalit are insult & humiliate in the country