Differences cropped up in the Kerala Film Exhibitors' Federation with its president P.V. Basheer Ahamed stating on Tuesday that a notice will be served on the general secretary for holding talks with Minister in charge of the Cinema portfolio K.B. Ganesh Kumar.
Mr. Ahamed told a television channel that the organisation had not authorised anybody to hold talks with the Minister. Mr. Ahamed said a notice would be served on M.C. Bobby seeking explanation.
He had also accused Mr. Ganesh Kumar of trying to split the federation.
Mr. Bobby and treasurer Suresh Shenoy had met the Minister at the Government Guesthouse at Aluva on Monday.
Stating that it was an informal meeting on an invitation extended by Mr. Ganesh Kumar, Mr. Bobby said they had also told the Minister that steps should be taken to re-instate the service charge withdrawn by the government. No assurance was given to Mr. Ganesh Kumar on the occasion, he said. Mr. Bobby said there was no rift in the organisation.
The Minister had on Monday condemned the exhibitors' federation stance that it would not screen Malayalam movies. He had said that the government would not hold talks with the federation until it went back on the decision.
A general body meeting of the federation on November 19 would decide the course of the agitation, Mr. Bobby said. Mr. Ahamed was not available for comment.
