The episode of the YouTube show “India’s Got Latent”, which featured inappropriate remarks by social media influencer and podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia, has been blocked following a government directive. The episode, which went viral two days ago, has been receiving widespread flak and has also evinced complaints. The controversy was also mentioned during Lok Sabha proceedings and the people associated with the show were summoned by the National Commission for Women.
“The ‘India Has Latent’ episode on @YouTube with obscene and perverse comments by Ranveer Allahbadia has been blocked following Government of India orders,” Kanchan Gupta, Senior Adviser, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, said in a post on X.
Allahbadia facing backlash from several quarters over his comments on comedian Samay Raina’s YouTube reality show went viral. Popularly known as BeerBiceps, he later apologised for his “lapse in judgement” and also said he had asked the show creators to remove the controversial segment.
Raising the issue of Allahbadia’s distasteful comments in the Lok Sabha, Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske on Tuesday said the government should enact a law to regulate social media, podcasts and OTT content that disrespects Bhartiya Sanskriti.
Rajya Sabha MP from Shiv Sena Priyanka Chaturvedi also said that she will be raising the issue in the standing committee of IT & Communication “ for the kind of vulgar, blasphemous content that is passed off as comedy” in the show. “We need to set boundaries since these platforms influence young minds and they are passing off absolute rubbish as content. The language used by Ranveer Allahabadia which was also actively encouraged by others on that ‘comedy panel’ is unacceptable,” she stated on X.
Expressing strong concerns, the National Commission for Women in statement said it has taken “serious note” of the “vulgar and offensive” remarks made by content creators on the show. It said that NCW Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar has issued summons to Allahabadia and the creators including Samay Raina, Apoorva Makhija, Jaspreet Singh, Ashish Chanchlani, Tushar Poojari and Saurabh Bothra for a personal hearing on February 17. This comes after the Women and Child Development Ministry sought a report from NCW on the issue.
Police complaints against those involved with the show have also been filed in Mumbai and Indore. The All India Cine Workers Association has also slammed the creators, raising concerns about “extremely derogatory language including remarks against parents and family values and said that the show should be permanently shut down.