Quantico row: ABC Studios issues apology, Bangladeshi-American writer blasts outrage over Priyanka Chopra's show

Priyanka Chopra's American TV show Quantico has been receiving flack from Indian audience for a plotline in which Indian nationalists are trying to blow up New York's Manhattan in a nuclear attack to frame Pakistan.

In the show, Chopra, who plays Alex Parrish, foils a plot by Indian nationalists who want to carry out a nuclear attack in Manhattan and frame Pakistan. The fictional attack is a ploy to disrupt a summit between the two nations in Jammu and Kashmir.

While Priyanka has kept mum about the whole issue, Bangladeshi-American writer Sharbari Ahmed -- who worked on the first season of the show -- has said that she is appalled by the reactions of Indian tweeters.

In an interview with Mid-Day Ahmed said, "The swift reaction (to the episode) indicates the state of mind that India is in. It is so similar to the absurd reaction they had to Padmaavat. The idea of nationalism in itself is taking on a problematic colour. It says essentially that I am better than you, my culture and beliefs are superior to yours."

Defending Priyanka's silence over the issue, she added, "Priyanka is a smart woman. I doubt she would be involved if the episode was offensive. ABC (the network) would be sensitive to that as well. It is absurd that there is such an uproar about a fictional show."

But in a recently issued statement by the network, it looks like ABC differs from Ahmed's opinion. The network apologised for having stepped into a sensitive political issue.

"ABC Studios and the executive producers of Quantico would like to extend an apology to our audience who were offended by the most recent episode, 'The Blood of Romeo.' The episode has stirred a lot of emotion, much of which is unfairly aimed at Priyanka Chopra, who didn’t create the show, nor does she write or direct it. She has no involvement in the casting of the show or the storylines depicted in the series," the ABC statement read. 

"Quantico is a work of fiction. The show has featured antagonists of many different ethnicities and backgrounds, but in this case we inadvertently and regrettably stepped into a complex political issue. It was certainly not our intention to offend anyone," it continued.

Many of the Indians have outraged that Chopra went ahead and shot a scene that they perceive to be ‘anti-India’.

Quantico will go off air after season 3