The Punjab government on Thursday imposed a ban on the screening of film “Aarakshan” till a special screening committee previewed it and submitted a report on Friday.
An official spokesman said the decision was taken as certain scenes and dialogues could inflame the passions of some communities.
The screening committee comprises Home Secretary Samir Kumar, chairman of Safai Karamchari Board Raj Kumar Atihai, chairman of Scheduled Caste Welfare Board Vijay Danav, a member of the Punjab Scheduled Caste Commission, the Inspector General of Police (Intelligence), the Vice-Chancellor Punjabi University in Patiala and the Vice-Chancellor Guru Nanak Dev University in Amritsar.
A.P. suspends screening
Hyderabad Special Correspondent reports:
The Andhra Pradesh government on Thursday suspended the exhibition of the film “Aarakshan” initially for one week or till a final decision was taken on the report of a five member committee constituted for the purpose.
Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy took this decision following representations that the exhibition of the film was likely to hurt the feelings of weaker sections, leading to protests and agitations and thus cause a breach of peace and tranquillity.
An order was immediately issued by the Home Department under Section 8 of the A.P. Cinemas (Regulation) Act, 1955, suspending the screening of the film in the cinemas in the State. It said that several organisations of the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and the Backward Classes had complained that the film contained contents that would hurt their members.
It has been 64 years since India gained independence and if we still talk about censorship on SC/ST/OBC, there is something really wrong with the people who are elected to govern our country and the people who think it will hurt the sentiments of the people. We pride ourselves in saying we are the largest democracy in the world and yet we suppress freedom of speech and expression which are the fundamental rights of every citizen of a democratic nation. There can be active debates surrounding the key theme and exchange of ideas but not their suppression. Indian Government should encourage freedom of expression rather than banning the ideas.
Nikhil is unnecessarily being aprehensive. The film is a good watch. Astute viewers will notice how Tanvi Azmi (Amithab Bacchan;s wife in the movie) mentions of the correct solution: ".... give basic education and make the weaker section compete. Reservations will not solve he problem .... ". But under the present situation, a fait accompli thrust by impotent politicians by implementing fragmenting policies, the movie shows the way forward. Rethink, Nikhil
Aarakshan mercilessly exploits prejudices against SC/ST/OBC (depressed classes) for commercial benefits. The film crew maintained false notion that it is about reservation & misguided society into a debate which is not there & created panic. Rather it deals with conflict among privileged caste Khatriya, Viashya & Brhamin. Such exploitation is irresponsible from the part of filmmaker, producer & film's unit.Film's director Prakash Jha and Amitabh continued saying that SC/ST/OBC should not shy away from debate on reservation or caste problem. But seeing the film, it is as if they are the one who used poor people's emotion to earn money. The film dilutes the presence of depressed classes in movie too as there in reality. Indian government should ban this in the favor of the nation.
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