New Delhi, February 10: Priyank Kanoongo, a member of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), has written a letter to Mira Chatt, the Head of Public Policy at YouTube, urging the platform to remove the video from the "India's Got Latent" show, where social media influencer Ranveer Allahbadia made controversial comments that have sparked widespread outrage.
The letter, dated Monday, directs YouTube to urgently take down the video and submit details of the channel and videos to the police authorities handling the FIR registered in the matter. Kanoongo, who previously served as the Chairperson of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), also requested an Action Taken Report (ATR) from YouTube within 10 days.
The complaint, filed by Yogendra Singh Thakur, claims that the video propagated "negativity, discriminatory views, religious intolerance, and offensive ideologies, particularly targeting women and children." The letter further alleges that the content in question is obscene and misleading, breaching legal provisions under the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POSCO) Act. Kanoongo expressed concern that the remarks in the video were not only objectionable but also violated the rights of women and children.
This controversy follows a formal complaint against Ranveer Allahbadia, social media influencer Apoorva Makhija, comedian Samay Raina, and the organizers of "India's Got Latent." The complaint, filed with the Mumbai Commissioner and Maharashtra Women's Commission, accuses the participants of using offensive language and making inappropriate remarks about women's private parts, allegedly for financial and popularity gains.
The remarks made by Allahbadia during the YouTube episode of "India's Got Latent" were initially intended as jokes but were deemed offensive by many, igniting public outrage. The complainant has called for strict legal action against the individuals involved.
In response to the incident, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis commented, "I am aware of the issue, though I have not watched the video. The statements made have been misrepresented. While everyone has freedom of speech, this freedom should not infringe upon the rights of others. In our society, there are certain standards, and if those are violated, appropriate action should be taken."
