YouTube Gandhi clip offends Indians

By siliconindia staff writer   |   Monday, 15 January 2007, 18:30 IST
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New Delhi: A tasteless video on Mahatma Gandhi has sent the entire nation on frenzy. The Government is quite outraged by the video and is contemplating action against the website YouTube, which aired the video either by blocking it or removing the video. The Information and Broadcast ministry also plans to serious actions against IBN-7 and Sahara for airing the video. This is an insult to the Father of the nation and I&B Minister, P R Dasmunsi has asked for an apology from the TV channels. The funny video clip shows comedian Gautam Prasad impersonating Gandhi and doing a pole-dance, stripping, playing with daggers and dining with two pretty girls. The video clip has left many people bemused. A professor from the School of International Studies pointed out that even Americans make fun of George Washington. But this is a defamatory video and thus should not be tolerated. Gautam Prasad, however, has apologised for his obscene humour on Mahatma Gandhi and said that he has great respect for him. He said that he would not withdraw the video from the website since it is harmless. He said that if people are quite concerned then let them not allow their family and friends to watch it. He stressed that he is a clown and is not pretending to be Gandhi but only playing the character. The move to block or act against YouTube, throws light on a similar stunt adopted by the Govt in October last year when action was taken against another Internet social network known as Orkut. A community called ‘Hate India’ had the Government ask the website to close down the communities. This incident also furrows the censorship debate. Noted personalities are of the view that such videos and actions by irresponsible Indians will have the children confused and mislead them.