Screenshot of JioCinema streaming service that aired PM Modi’s event. Photo for representational purpose only.

Streaming service JioCinema, majority-owned by Reliance Group, on Thursday removed a 2019 episode Last Week Tonight with John Oliver After the episode came out, it was widely reported that the show’s previous streaming partner in India, Disney+Hotstar, had chosen to avoid its release. It is not clear why JioCinema removed the episode – hindu Spokespeople for HBO parent Warner Bros. Discovery and JioCinema have been contacted for comment.

In the episode, host John Oliver covers the 2019 general elections for the Lok Sabha and the protests that year against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and the National Register of Citizens. Mr Oliver resurfaced allegations against Prime Minister Modi in connection with the Gujarat riots (where the Supreme Court-ordered Special Investigation Team had cleared him of involvement), and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and other top BJP leaders. What were portrayed as Islamophobic comments. Home Minister Amit Shah, who was the BJP president at that time.

Disney+Hotstar, which was airing episodes of the show after a 24-hour delay (partially to clear the show of any derogatory remarks on the Walt Disney Corporation) and to remove maps of Jammu and Kashmir, on which the Government of India disputes), avoided broadcast. Episode in its entirety. The main segment on Mr Modi and the elections was released on YouTube, and is available there.

In later episodes, Mr. Oliver criticized Hotstar for censoring the episode, as well as past censorship of Disney characters featured in the show as a joke. Hotstar aired subsequent episodes largely without censorship of Disney characters, but never commented on its decision. At a price of ₹11,500 crore, the streaming service is on track to be owned by Reliance, following the merger of Disney’s Indian operations with the Ambani-run group.