The controversial song "Sarke Chunar Teri Sarke" from the film KD: The Devil has been banned, Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.

Responding to concerns raised by a Member of Parliament, the minister said freedom of speech must operate within limits defined by society and culture. He stressed that constitutional provisions already place reasonable restrictions on such freedoms, IANS reported.

"The song that the Member of Parliament mentioned has already been banned. I would like to clearly convey to the entire House through you, that regarding freedom of speech. We should follow the reasonable restrictions imposed by the creators of the Constitution of India on freedom of speech. Freedom of speech cannot be absolute. It has to be in the context of the society."

Union government's stance on free speech

Vaishnaw further said that expression must align with cultural values and social responsibility, especially in the digital age, where content spreads rapidly.

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"It has to be in the context of the culture. And in that, very carefully, in the coming time, the way things are spreading rapidly today through digital means, in that, for the protection of the society, especially for the protection of children, for the protection of women, for the protection of the deprived groups of the society, the government is ready to take any hard action."

His remarks underline the government's position that free speech is not unrestricted and may be curtailed to safeguard vulnerable groups.

Controversy around the song

The song, featuring actor Nora Fatehi, had sparked widespread backlash soon after its release. Critics alleged that the lyrics were vulgar and the choreography suggestive.

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Singer Armaan Malik had termed the writing a "new low", while several social media users called the content inappropriate.

The issue escalated after legal complaints were filed seeking a ban, citing concerns over public decency and its potential impact on minors. Amid growing pressure, the makers reportedly removed the song from YouTube, IANS reported.