Pehredaar Piya Ki: Online campaign demands ban, I&B Ministry swings into action
Mumbai: The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has taken note of the controversy surrounding television serial 'Pehredaar Piya Ki', which portrays a 10-year-old boy 'getting married' to a woman twice his age and celebrating 'suhaag raat' with her, after an online petition had demanded a ban on the show.
The I&B Ministry has written to the BCCC (Broadcasting content complaints council) regarding the matter and asked for prompt response regarding it.
In a statement, the I&B Ministry said, “The I&B ministry has written to the BCCC (the self regulatory mechanism for GEC content) – to take up the matter since citizens have petitioned and there is an outcry across from media. The BCCC has to take cognisance and respond and take action – since close sources say the Govt has sent a letter to this effect to the BCCC today for immediate and prompt action. Especially since the show has a suhaagraat sequence between a grown up woman and a small boy.The I&B ministry has specifically written to the BCCC to immediately take this up and respond on priority.”
More than 50,000 people have signed an online petition to demand a ban on the TV show 'Pehredaar Piya Ki', which revolves around the marriage of a wealthy 10-year-old boy to a woman twice his age.
The show, which went on air last month, has been criticised for its bizarre plot and for promoting child marriage.
The petition on change.org was started by an angry viewer, Mansi Jain, who has urged Information and Broadcasting Minister Smriti Irani to ban the show.
"Pehredar piya ki. - A 10 year old impressionable little kid ('piyaa') caressing and stalking a lady who's more than double his age and filling sindoor in her 'maang' is being telecast at prime time - 8:30pm on Sony," Jain writes in the petition.
"(Family time) It is to be devoured by the entire nation. Imagine the kind of influence it will steadily and perpetually infuse in the viewers' mindset. We want a ban on the serial. We do not want our kids to be influenced by such TV serials. Join us in signing the petition to ban this serial."
Jain's petition has received more than 50,000 signatures, and counting.
'Pehredaar Piya Ki' stars Tejaswi Prakash Wayangankar as Diya Ratan Singh and Afaan Khan as her husband Prince Ratan Singh.
