Kunal Kamra to sue YouTube after his video on "Castelessness" gets red-flagged
New Delhi: Comedian Kunal Kamra, alleging that YouTube is discriminating against his videos by putting up a warning message to viewers, has said that he will fight against the social media platform in court.
The 25th episode of his show ‘Shut Up Ya Kunal’ on Saturday, February 25, featured Harvard scholar Dr Suraj Yengde speaking about the caste system in India.
The video carried a message from YouTube, “Viewer discretion is advised: The following content may contain topics related to suicide or self-harm,” asking the viewer to confirm his/her decision to watch the video.
Dr Suraj Yengde on Sunday questioned YouTube on Twitter its message leading to the video, also asking Kunal Kamra, “something wrong?”
Host Kamra too asked YouTube on Sunday to explain the message, which he called “gatekeeping of the worse kind for content”.
In its reply to Kamra, YouTube stated that Kamra's appeal to remove the warning message, was rejected, and wrote, “We’ve looked at your content carefully, and have confirmed that age restrictions are still appropriate. We know it may be disappointing but it’s important that we keep the YouTube community protected.”
Kamra, on his Twitter handle, replied to YouTube on Sunday afternoon, “Hi @YouTubeIndia for your blatant discrimination we will have to settle this legally…”
The one-and-a-half-hour video on ‘Castelessness’, has Kamra interviewing Dr Yengde on a ‘casteless India’. The legal note with the video says it is an attempt to promote scientific temperament through satire and not meant to disrespect any religious, regional, or social groups.
The video shows the duo discussing related issues, under various chapters, including ‘Owners of the Caste Factory’, ‘Brahmanical Media’, ‘Beyond Hindu-Muslimization’, ‘Democracy Today’, ‘Dalit Panthers, ‘Global Allies’ and ‘Reservation Debate’.
The scholar, speaking on the multiple characters of the caste system in the Indian society, explains the different meanings that could be accorded to ‘castelessness’. It could, for one, be a beautiful and deeply spiritual experience if one could surpass ‘artificial masks’ through genuine introspection, but it could also an act of ‘sitting on a heap of privileges’, he adds.
The video also shows the scholar saying that the way women were treated in the archaic Indian social setup displayed a need to express one’s superiority, while slaves were treated as commodities that had to be subjugated.
He further says that the census calculation that began with the British era worried the upper castes as it showed the division in society.
Speaking on Buddhism, Dr Yengde said that Buddha challenged the hierarchies in the Hindu society. “There were attempts by Brahmins to kills Buddha, as he displayed a lot of compassion,” he adds.
Asked to comment on ‘Dalit Panthers’, a social organization that was launched in Maharashtra to combat caste discrimination, the scholar says that the group had highly literate members who were poets, writers and novelists, whose words ‘aroused a certain emotion in you’. He cites an example of a Dalit woman being denuded and punished in front of a crowd and the response of a member of ‘Dalit Panthers’ that ‘the punishment to the Dalit woman was paltry, but had grown in measure when compared to the respect shown to a lifeless national flag that could not save her honour.
Episode 25 of Shut Up Ya Kunal featuring the esteemed @surajyengde a dynamic young thought leader in the fight against casteism. Tune in perspectives. https://t.co/CE1ki8A8ra
— Kunal Kamra (@kunalkamra88) February 25, 2023
what’s going on @YouTube ?
— suraj yengde (@surajyengde) February 26, 2023
something wrong ? @kunalkamra88 pic.twitter.com/nLvAkvWQZB
Hi @YouTubeIndia for your blatant discrimination we will have to settle this legally… pic.twitter.com/Pc2UxjFesq
— Kunal Kamra (@kunalkamra88) February 26, 2023
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Jamaat-e-Islami Hind backs Operation Sindoor, urges unity, restraint to counter terror threat
New Delhi: Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) has extended its unequivocal support to the ongoing anti-terror initiative, Operation Sindoor, launched by Indian security forces. Emphasising the grave threat posed by terrorism, JIH President Syed Sadatullah Hussaini described it as a heinous crime against humanity and called for its complete eradication to ensure the nation's peace and security.
In a statement issued on Monday, Hussaini lauded the efforts of the armed forces and security agencies, stating that their actions are receiving widespread support from citizens across religious and community lines. He noted that the people of India stand in solidarity with the forces in their pursuit to eliminate terror threats.
While welcoming the spirit of national unity evident during the operation, the JIH president also issued a word of caution against the misuse of the situation for communal polarisation. "Attempts to exploit such sensitive moments to stoke divisions or incite communal tensions are deeply harmful to the nation’s interests and must be firmly rejected," Hussaini said.
He appealed to political parties, religious leaders, and civil society organisations to uphold communal harmony and demonstrate restraint. "This is a time for national unity, mutual respect, and responsible conduct," he added, urging all sections of society to resist divisive narratives.
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