Union Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu said the BJP and central government did not remove the film "Satluj" from ZEE5.
The denial comes amid political friction regarding content moderation on digital platforms. The removal of the film has sparked accusations that the ruling party used its influence to censor artistic work, raising questions about freedom of expression in India.
Speaking in Jalandhar, Punjab, on Wednesday, July 8, 2026 [1], Bittu addressed the claims made by certain politicians. He said that the accusations regarding the government's involvement in the film's disappearance from the OTT platform were not grounded in reality.
"The allegations are baseless, misleading, and devoid of facts," Bittu said [1].
The minister's comments aimed to refute the narrative that the central government intervened with the streaming service to pull the content. He said that neither the party nor the state administration played a part in the decision made by the platform.
"The BJP or the Centre had no role in the removal of 'Satluj' from the OTT platform," Bittu said [2].
The dispute highlights the ongoing tension between political entities and the digital media industry. While the government denies interference, the incident continues to be a point of contention for critics who argue that political pressure often dictates the availability of sensitive content on streaming services.
“"The allegations are baseless, misleading, and devoid of facts."”
This exchange underscores the volatility of the digital streaming landscape in India, where the intersection of political sensitivity and corporate content policies often leads to accusations of state-sponsored censorship. By explicitly denying involvement, the government is attempting to distance itself from the editorial decisions of private platforms like ZEE5 to avoid a broader political backlash regarding free speech.
