JioCinema, the streaming service predominantly owned by the Reliance group, has recently taken down a 2019 episode of the popular HBO show “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.” This episode, which had stirred significant controversy, sheds light into Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s role in the 2019 general elections, the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), and the National Register of Citizens (NRC). Notably, the episode had never been released by Disney+ Hotstar, the previous holder of HBO content rights in India.
In the episode, John Oliver offers a sharp critique of Prime Minister Modi, focusing on his alleged involvement in the 2002 Gujarat riots, despite a Supreme Court-ordered Special Investigation Team clearing him of complicity. Oliver also highlights what he terms as Islamophobic comments from other senior BJP leaders, including Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Home Minister Amit Shah, who was the BJP president at the time.
JioCinema Is Yet To Disclose The Exact Reason For The Episode Removal
While the episode is no longer available on JioCinema, the exact reason for its removal remains undisclosed. This isn’t the first instance of such content being censored. Disney+ Hotstar had earlier avoided streaming the same episode, breaking its usual practice of airing “Last Week Tonight” episodes after a 24-hour delay to censor any potentially offensive content about the Walt Disney Corporation and adjust maps of Jammu and Kashmir in line with Indian government policies. Nevertheless, the segment focusing on Modi and the elections was uploaded to YouTube, where it remains accessible.
In a subsequent episode, John Oliver criticized Hotstar for its censorship, pointing out previous instances where Disney characters featured in his show were edited out. Though Hotstar later ceased censoring such content, it never publicly addressed its decision regarding the Modi episode.
The episode of “Last Week Tonight” scrutinizes Modi’s rise in Indian politics, from his initial visa denial by the U.S. after the Gujarat riots to his later hosting of President Donald Trump in Gujarat. Oliver particularly criticized Trump’s description of Modi as “the father of India,” a title traditionally associated with Mahatma Gandhi, labelling the statement as “stupid at best, and dangerous at worst.”
Besides discussing Modi, Oliver’s episode explores a range of issues including demonetization’s impact on India’s poor and the RSS founders’ controversial admiration for Hitler. These pointed critiques are justified with clips from various BJP leaders’ speeches, including Yogi Adityanath’s provocative remarks at rallies.
The 18-minute segment of the original 30-minute episode, uploaded to YouTube on February 24, 2020, has since been viewed over five million times. Oliver’s candid commentary and critical analysis have drawn praise from various quarters, including activists like Prashant Bhushan and comedian Vir Das.
JioCinema’s recent action of removing this episode has reignited discussions on censorship and freedom of expression in India. The lack of a disclosed reason for the removal only adds to the ongoing debate about the limits placed on political critique and satire in the country.
