Derogatory video on Gandhi is back

Websites do it again! A series of controversial videos on Mahatma Gandhi, including the banned pole dance video that instigated widespread protest in India, has resurfaced on the internet write Amrita Das and Shashak Shekhar.
The controversial Gandhi pole dance video, which was removed from the internet after the government banned it, is back on websites with a lot more on the Father of the Nation. Earlier, New York-based Non-Resident Indian, Gautham Prasad, had apologised for making of the video that shows a man in Gandhi-type attire striping and performing pole dance on bhangra beats. The controversial video has resurfaced on compfused.com and youtube.com. The resurfacing of the video has highlighted the ineffectiveness of organisations like CERT-In and other government web monitoring and hosting agencies. The video was originally posted on the site skinnyindian. It was also aired by two national news channels, who had to apologise later after the Information and Broadcast Ministry said it amounted to an 'assault to the dignity of the Father of the Nation'. The then I&B Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi had ordered his ministry to deal firmly with the matter and it was then decided that the issue would be discussed by a committee headed by the additional secretary. But it seems the discussions were not effective as videos showing Gandhi with arms, fighting with villains, dining with women and drinking wine is almost everywhere on the site.
Prasad had earlier apologised saying, “My intention was to entertain people. I apologise if I offended anybody with the video. I made this video and posted it on the internet as a marketing tool for my business as a performer. I was a clown with Ringling Bros. In the video I am playing a fool who thinks it would be a good idea to dress up like Gandhi and do this dance. In reality, I'm making fun of myself. Some accuse me of portraying Gandhi with a gun and alcohol, but those scenes are not there on my video.”
Google, understanding the seriousness of the issue, had then issued a statement saying: “We take matters such as this seriously and are currently reviewing the clip to determine the best course of action. These issues are complicated as the Internet is an international phenomenon.”
Earlier the video was banned after widespread protests erupted in India. Students of Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth, stopped a train from leaving the Varanasi station and threatened to call for a state-wide shutdown, while the silent protesters demanded action against Prasad. Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad, saw members of Gandhi Sena holding a silent protest, Varanasi saw a more violent one. It was reported that children also joined the protest.