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Protest against 'Aarakshan' gathering strength

Even before its release, opinion on the Bollywood movie 'Aarakshan' (Reservation) is gathering steam with political leaders warning of protests if the film's stand is found to be in conflict with the Constitutional provisions.

On Wednesday, Chhagan Bhujbal, Maharashtra Public Works Department Minister and a prominent Other Backward Classes leader from the Nationalist Congress Party, called for a clarification from the makers of 'Aarakshan', directed by Prakash Jha.

"The provision for reservation is enshrined in the Constitution. The policy has the sanction of the country's Parliament, be it for the Dalits, adivasis, OBCs or women. Political parties are in favour of quotas. Various sections have waged protracted battles to secure reservation. In this context, if a movie takes an anti-reservation stand, it is likely to fuel anti-quota propaganda, and protests are bound to take place across the country," Mr. Bhujbal told journalists here.

Mr. Bhujbal, who heads the All-India Mahatma Phule Samata Parishad, said his organisation would protest peacefully by staging a satyagraha if the movie argued against reservation.

Voices of opposition have already emerged from Jharkhand and other States. Pro-reservationists, including leaders such as Lalu Prasad, Sharad Yadav, Mayawati, Gopinath Munde of the Bharatiya Janata Party and leaders from the south are bound to come together to oppose the film, Mr. Bhujbal said.

"The movie makers should sit with any of these leaders, screen the movie for them and clarify their stand clearing any misgivings. Of course, there is no objection to the making of the movie. But if there is an attempt to vitiate the atmosphere, it has to be opposed. In the absence of a clarification, nationwide protests across the country would give rise to law and order problems," he said.

Ramdas Athavale, leader of the Republican Party of India (Athavale) who recently joined the Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party Alliance, told The Hindu over phone that he is communicating with Mr. Jha to schedule a preview for concerned leaders and the chairperson of the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes.

"If there are objectionable parts in the movie, they should be deleted. I have not seen the movie yet and it is not my intention to purposely antagonise the filmmaker. We just feel that the movie should not lead to negative thinking in society. Mr. Jha is a good director and Amitabh Bachchan is a popular star. They should avoid controversy," he said.

Mr. Athavale said other castes and communities had demanded for reservation, realising the importance of the policy.

'Rajneeti' over 'Aarakshan' as politicians object to film

"One could illustrate this article with any number of examples of the cause and effect of statements made by Bachchan ' intended or unintended.

When even statements that he does not intend to have an impact do, indeed, have an impact, Bachchan needs to clarify his stance. In the current instance, for example, he needs to spell out in no ambiguous terms what he means when he says, "But we need to assess whether it's really helping uplift the backward classes or widening the rift between the privileged and the have-nots." Is he pro-reservation? Anti-reservation?

Or is he just acting in a film, not intending to draw attention to the issue.

The problem is, even if he is just acting in the film, attention will be drawn to any statement by Bachchan in the context of reservation ' because he is Amitabh Bachchan.

This is too big and volatile an issue to flirt with ' and now, with the film Aarakshan, Amitabh Bachchan is in the cauldron. And being Amitabh Bachchan is being very powerful and influential ' which means he needs to, consciously, always show a great sense of responsibility.

A few careless statements, and he could become the brand ambassador for the pro-reservation movement ' or for the anti-reservation movement. And, as in the case of progeria, he might have no control over the outcome."