Govt invokes emergency powers, blocks Pakistan series
The information and broadcasting ministry on Monday invoked its emergency powers under the IT Rules 2021 to block the website, two mobile applications, four social media accounts, and one smart TV app of Pakistan-based OTT platform Vidly TV. It had released a web series titled ‘Sevak: The Confessions’, which has been found to be detrimental to the national security, sovereignty and integrity of India.
Three episodes of the web-series have been released till date and government sources said they suspect that the web series was sponsored by the Pakistani information operations apparatus.
The first episode of the series was released on November 26, the anniversary of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks and reportedly showed anti-India content.
According to the ministry, the web series also showed events like Operation Blue Star and its aftermath, the demolition of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya, the Malegaon blast, the Samjhauta Express blast among others, with distorted facts.
The ministry said the web series was attempting to promote separatism, disaffection and disillusionment among the Sikh community towards India, and portraying Operation Blue Star as a massacre of innocent Sikhs, all of which amounted to an attack on the defence of India, security of the State, India’s friendly relations with foreign States, and public order in the country.
