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.
