Colors' magnum opus Ram Siya Ke Luv Kush faced a telecast ban in Punjab after the state's Valmiki Community's staged a protest against the telecast of the show, demanding that it's telecast be banned. The community also called for a peaceful bandh on September 7, not wanting to affect the functioning of schools and hospitals. And soon, the Colors show was issued the makers a show-cause notice by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, demanding that Colors' issue an explanation within 15 days for the 'alleged disfiguration of facts of Maharishi Valmiki and hurting the religious sentiments. Punjab: Telecast of Colors TV Show 'Ram Siya Ke Luv Kush' Suspended After Valmiki Community's Protest

The show-caused notice reads, "In this serial Lord Rama has been shown to have visited Maharishi Valmiki Ashram and met Luv and Kush which is not true; Lord Rama met Luv and Kush at the time of Ashwamedh Yagna when they capture their horse and had war with Ayodhya. Also, The words used to describe Maharishi Valmiki of the particular sect appear to show him in a poor and demeaning light." 'Ram Siya ke Luv Kush' Serial in Trouble: Colors Tv Show Gets Show-Cause Notice from I&B Ministry

And now, the channel has released its official statement in response to the show-cause notice issued.

The statement reads-

Ramayana is an epic tale that extols quintessentially Indian values through its nuanced storytelling. Ram Siya ke Luv Kush is our effort to bring to fore this epic, through a lens that had not been explored before and thus make it topical in today’s day and age across all generations. The show draws from various texts, books and scriptures based on Ramayan and it is never our intention to hurt sentiments of any particular group.

We are closely working with the group and taking their feedback on board. We stay committed to working together to make this a show that Indians across geographies and generations enjoy uninhibited.

- Viacom18 spokesperson.

In the latest update with regards to the case, The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Monday refused to stay a ban on airing of the show, and the ban on the telecast stays with the court adjourning the matter to September 12, according to an official release by the state government.

 

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 15, 2019 02:30 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).