Calls to ban TikTok in India after video reported to be 'glamourising' acid attacks goes viral

Thousands of people in India are calling for TikTok to be banned after a widely circulated video thought to promote acid attacks was shared on the social media site.

It was shared by Faizal Siddiqui, who has a lot more than 13 million followers on TikTok.

In the sketch, he's seen questioning a woman after a break-up.

“Did he leave you? The main one you left me for?” Siddiqui asks, before throwing liquid in her face.

The girl is then seen wearing make-up mimicking acid burns.

The lyrics of the song played in the background are “You will cry”.

The video has caused a mass outcry with persons claiming it glorifies acid attacks, resulting in persons calling for TikTok to be banned in the united states using the hashtag #bantiktokinindia, which is currently trending.

“This person ‘Faizal’ promoting Acid Attacks on the iphone app ought to be enough of grounds to #BanTikTokInIndia,” reads one tweet.

Another says: “TikTok star Faizal Siddiqui promotes using acid attack as revenge for jilted lover. Police complaint filed ....#BanTikTokInIndia #FaizalSiddiqui”

The National Commission for Ladies in India in addition has written to police to file the official complaint against the video.

The organisation’s chairwoman, Rekha Sharma, said in a tweet: “Written to @DGPMaharashtra DGP to do this against #FaizalSiddiqui. Also wrote to @TikTok_IN to block this person from the platform, though they have deleted the video from it after a call from @NCWIndia.”

Many other persons have shared screenshots on Twitter showing police complaint reports made against the video, which has now been deleted from TikTok. But Siddiqui’s account remains active.

Siddiqui and TikTok India have yet to comment.

It is not the very first time people have already been accused of ‘glamourising’ acid attacks on the video-sharing platform. Earlier this year, actress Deepika Padukone faced a backlash after asking TikTok make-up influencer @faby_makeupartist to recreate three of her “favourite looks”, like the character she played in film Chhapaak, who was the victim of an acid attack.

Many fans saw the task as insensitive, tweeting their anger at the video.

“No @deepikapadukone. This promo isn’t cool or cute. It’s insensitive & ghastly. The movie wasn’t about you & your constitute. It was in regards to a woman scarred forever. And victims like her, whose marks can’t be wiped off, unlike your constitute.”