The BJP has criticized Netflix’s ‘IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack’ for using non-Muslim aliases for the Pakistani terrorists involved in the 1999 hijacking. The series has come under fire for allegedly downplaying the involvement of the actual perpetrators, sparking debates over historical accuracy and the portrayal of religious identity.
BJP Criticizes Netflix’s ‘IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack’ for Alleged Misrepresentation
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has raised strong objections to the Netflix series ‘IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack,’ accusing the creators of misrepresenting the Pakistani terrorists involved in the 1999 hijacking of an Indian Airlines flight. The series, directed by Anubhav Sinha, has been criticized for allegedly shifting the blame away from the real culprits by using non-Muslim aliases for the terrorists.
BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his concerns, stating, “The hijackers of IC-814 were dreaded terrorists who adopted aliases to conceal their Muslim identities. By using their non-Muslim names, filmmaker Anubhav Sinha has legitimized their criminal intent. Decades later, people might believe that Hindus hijacked IC-814.”
The controversy centers around the portrayal of the terrorists, with the BJP arguing that the series distorts historical facts and potentially misleads future generations. The hijacking, which occurred on December 24, 1999, after the plane took off from Kathmandu, Nepal, was one of the most significant terror incidents in Indian history.
Since its release on Netflix on August 29, the series, featuring prominent actors like Naseeruddin Shah, Pankaj Kapur, Vijay Varma, Dia Mirza, and Arvind Swamy, has faced online criticism and boycott calls. The controversy has sparked debates about historical accuracy, religious identity, and the responsibilities of filmmakers in portraying sensitive events.
BJP Condemns Netflix’s ‘IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack’ for Misrepresentation of Hijackers
The BJP has voiced strong objections to the Netflix series ‘IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack,’ criticizing the use of codenames like Bhola, Shankar, Doctor, Burger, and Chief for the five hijackers, which the party claims whitewashes the crimes of Pakistani terrorists. The series, directed by Anubhav Sinha, has come under fire for allegedly concealing the Muslim identities of the perpetrators involved in the 1999 Indian Airlines flight hijacking.
Amit Malviya, the BJP’s IT cell chief, took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his discontent, accusing the series of furthering a leftist agenda. “The Left’s agenda to whitewash the crimes of Pakistani terrorists, all Muslims, has been served. This is the power of cinema, which the Communists have been using aggressively since the 70s, perhaps even earlier,” Malviya stated.
The real-life hijackers—identified as Ibrahim Athar, Sunny Ahmed Qazi, Zahoor Ibrahim, Shahid Akhter, and Sayed Shakir—seized control of the plane en route from Kathmandu to Delhi on December 24, 1999. The hijacking led to a tense crisis, which ultimately ended with the Indian government agreeing to release three terrorists—Masood Azhar, Omar Sheikh, and Mushtaq Ahmad Zargar—in exchange for the safety of about 150 hostages.
Malviya emphasized that the portrayal of the hijackers using non-Muslim aliases could have long-term repercussions. “This will not just weaken or put in question India’s security apparatus in the long run, but also shift the blame away from the religious cohort responsible for all the bloodshed,” he warned.
The series, which features a star-studded cast including Naseeruddin Shah, Pankaj Kapur, Vijay Varma, Dia Mirza, and Arvind Swamy, has ignited debates over historical accuracy and the responsibilities of filmmakers in depicting real events, particularly those with significant national and religious implications.
Casting Director Mukesh Chhabra Defends Use of Codenames for Hijackers in ‘IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack’
Amid the controversy surrounding the Netflix series ‘IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack,’ casting director Mukesh Chhabra has come forward to defend the decision to use codenames for the hijackers portrayed in the series. The show, which has faced criticism for allegedly misrepresenting the Pakistani terrorists involved in the 1999 hijacking of an Indian Airlines flight, has sparked heated debates about historical accuracy and religious identity.
Responding to the backlash, Chhabra took to X (formerly Twitter) to clarify the rationale behind the use of codenames such as Bhola, Shankar, Doctor, Burger, and Chief for the hijackers. “I am reading so many tweets about the names of the hijackers. We did the proper research. They used to call each other by those names—nicknames or fake names, whatever you want to call them,” Chhabra explained. His statement suggests that the use of these names was based on factual information rather than an attempt to obscure the hijackers’ identities.
Chhabra also expressed gratitude for the positive reception of the series’ cast, thanking both his team and director Anubhav Sinha. “And thank you, everyone, for loving the ensemble cast. A big thank you to my team, and especially to Anubhav Sinha for trusting us and giving me the freedom to explore,” he wrote.
The series has been at the center of controversy for its portrayal of the hijackers, with critics accusing it of whitewashing the crimes of the actual perpetrators. However, Chhabra’s defense highlights the complexities involved in bringing such a sensitive and historically significant story to life, underscoring the challenges filmmakers face in balancing artistic interpretation with factual representation.
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