New Delhi: A controversial clip from a reality show streaming on an OTT platform has sparked major backlash online due to its explicit nature. Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi questioned why the Centre has not yet banned the app hosting the show. BJP MP Nishikant Dubey responded by assuring that action would be taken against the programme. It should be noted thay on March 14 last year, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting had barred 18 OTT platforms over content deemed obscene, vulgar, or pornographic.
On Thursday, Chaturvedi posted a nearly two-minute video from the web series House Arrest — hosted by ex-Bigg Boss contestant Ajaz Khan and available on the ‘ULLU’ platform — on social media platform X. She said she has flagged such inappropriate content to authorities multiple times but has received no response so far.
“I have raised this in the standing committee that apps such as this, namely, Ullu App and Alt Balaji have managed to escape the ban by I&B ministry on apps for obscene content. I am still awaiting their reply,” the Rajya Sabha MP said.
In another post, Priyanka Chaturvedi shared the names of the 18 OTT apps that were banned by the central government in 2023. “The apps blocked by the government were primarily platforms distributing explicit material. The following 18 apps were banned… Surprisingly 2 of the biggest apps were kept out- Ullu and Alt Balaji, will I&B tell the country why were they left out from this ban?” she said.
In the viral video, Ajaz Khan is seen questioning a contestant about different Kama Sutra sex positions on his reality show. He later asks another group of participants to demonstrate those positions on camera.
Priyanka Chaturvedi’s criticism comes just days after the Supreme Court, on April 28, issued notices to the Centre, OTT platforms, and social media companies in response to a public interest litigation (PIL) that called for measures to curb the streaming of obscene content.
BJP MP Nishikant Dubey also weighed in on the controversy, assuring that such explicit content would not be permitted and action would be taken against it. “This will not work @MIB_India, our committee will take action on this,” he said in a post on X in Hindi, as he tagged the I&B Ministry.
