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The I&B ministry has asked the MEA to raise objections and get the ‘misrepresentation’ removed from the global version of the superhit.

New Delhi: The information and broadcasting ministry has taken strong note of the “improper depiction” of Jammu & Kashmir in the Hollywood blockbuster ‘Mission: Impossible – Fallout’, and asked the external affairs ministry to intervene.

The Tom Cruise-starrer, which was released in India on 27 July, had several references to Kashmir, some of which were removed or altered on the directions of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) before release. It is learnt that among other “misrepresentations”, the film showed a map which misrepresented J&K’s boundaries.

The film was shot in New Zealand.

However, these cuts do not apply to the global version and the I&B ministry is obviously not pleased. In its letter to the MEA, the ministry has said that while it has been ensured that the Indian version of the film will not violate the “sovereignty and integrity” of India, there are possibilities that the misrepresentation of “an integral part of India” may still be exhibited in the global version of the film.

The letter urges the MEA to look into the matter and raise objections against the improper depiction of J&K.

Action taken by CBFC

It is learnt that the CBFC’s examining committee had seen the film on 13 July and sought the removal of dialogues and maps improperly depicting J&K and its boundaries. Highly-placed sources told ThePrint that the CBFC had sought removal of the words “Indian-controlled Kashmir” and replace them with the “Indian state of Jammu & Kashmir”.

It had further sought removal of maps which had misrepresented the state’s borders, and a disclaimer stating that the film does not intend to hurt the feelings/sentiments or defame persons of any region, community, nationality, religion or organisation.

Also read: NFDC may not be shut after all as I&B ministry comes up with a fresh merger plan

CBFC chief Prasoon Joshi had told PTI that the integrity of India’s borders are non-negotiable and cannot be compromised on for the sake of entertainment.

Past misrepresentations

This is not the first time that J&K’s boundary has been misrepresented in the media.

Earlier, an NCERT political science textbook had shown the Aksai Chin region as part of China with ‘Indian claim’.

US tech giant Amazon had also published an inaccurate map of India that excluded some parts of Jammu and Kashmir.

In 2015, international news channel Al Jazeera was forced to go off air in India for five days as the I&B ministry penalised it for repeatedly showing wrong maps of India.

Under the draft Geospatial Information Regulation Bill, 2016, the depiction of India’s map in violation of the government’s standards makes one liable for imprisonment of up to seven years and a fine of Rs 100 crore.

Also read: I&B ministry disbands Smriti Irani-constituted panel to regulate online media

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