Rajiv Gandhi lived and died for India; freedom of expression is a fundamental right: Rahul Gandhi on Sacred Games row

Amid a row over Netflix TV series Sacred Games for "insulting" former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said the views of a character on a fictional web series can never change the fact that his father lived and died in the service of the country.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi. Photo: File

NEW DELHI: Amid a row over Netflix TV series 'Sacred Games' for "insulting" former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said a fictional web series can never change the fact that his father lived and died in the service of the country. 'Sacred Games', Netflix's maiden original Indian mini-series, was caught in a controversy after several complaints were lodged against it for "insulting and abusing" Rajiv Gandhi. Complainants demanded the removal of certain scenes from the 'Sacred Games' claiming that some of its content was derogatory to the former prime minister. "My father lived and died in the service of India. The views of a character on a fictional web series can never change that," Gandhi said. He said unlike the BJP, he doesn't believe that the freedom of expression should be policed or controlled. "BJP/RSS believe freedom of expression must be policed and controlled. I believe this freedom is a fundamental democratic right," he wrote.

BJP/RSS believe the freedom of expression must be policed & controlled. I believe this freedom is a fundamental democratic right.

My father lived and died in the service of India. The views of a character on a fictional web series can never change that.#SacredGames — Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 14, 2018

The series is based on author Vikram Chandra's novel of the same name. It has been directed by Anurag Kashyap and Vikramaditya Motwane. According to reports, the opening scene hits out at the Congress as there are episodes on Emergency imposed by the Indira Gandhi government, as well as the Bofors scandal and the Shah Bano case that created a storm during Rajiv Gandhi's tenure as Prime Minister. Gandhi's remarks come days after a plea was filed in the Delhi High Court seeking removal of certain scenes from 'Sacred Games'. Petitioner advocate Nikhil Bhalla, in the petition filed through advocate Shashank Garg, contended that the show, starring Saif Ali Khan and Nawazuddin Siddiqui, "incorrectly depicts historical events of the country like Bofors case, Shah Bano case, Babri Masjid case and communal riots". The plea has sought directions to Netflix Entertainment, the show's producer -- Phantom Films Production Ltd -- and the Centre to ensure "in toto" removal of the allegedly offensive scenes and derogatory remarks made directly or indirectly against the former prime minister or his family. Also, a police complaint has been filed by a Congress activist in Kolkata against the producers of the web series and actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui over the issue. The first season of the show, comprising eight episodes, was released on July 6 and is available in 190 countries in four languages, the petition has said. (With additional inputs from agencies)