Government has banned these Pakistan-based website and apps

The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting in India has utilized emergency powers under the IT Rules 2021 to issue directives for blocking various platforms associated with the Pakistani OTT Platform Vidly TV. This action was taken in response to the release of the web-series “Sevak: The Confessions”, which has been deemed harmful to India’s national security, sovereignty, and integrity. The web-series contains content that inhibits India’s defense, state security, friendly relations with foreign countries, and public order within the country. Three episodes of the series have been released so far.

There is suspicion that the web series may be backed by the Pakistani information operations apparatus. The first episode was released on November 26, the anniversary of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.

The web-series includes anti-India content, such as showing the burning of the Ashok Chakra from the Indian flag in the opening credits. It also presents distorted versions of sensitive historical events in India, including Operation Blue Star, the Babri Masjid demolition in Ayodhya, the killing of Christian missionary Graham Staines, the Malegaon and Samjhauta Express blasts, and the inter-state river water dispute related to the Sutlej Yamuna Link canal.

The series features dialogues that pass on wounds from the Sikh community to future generations in relation to Operation Blue Star, portrays the Indian State as being against the interests of the Muslim community, and presents a narrative that all Indian political parties were involved in the demolition of the Babri Masjid. One visual even shows an Indian news channel reporting that “Muslims, Sikhs and Christians are India’s internal threat, says Home Minister”.

Vidly TV is an emerging OTT platform that offers movies and TV content globally. It is accessible on mobile devices and connected devices capable of streaming. The service provides ad-free viewing at various price points tailored to suit the payment and consumption preferences of subscribers. The Vidly app can be downloaded from both the Android and Apple App Store.