After Uttar Pradesh, Aarakshan banned in Punjab

CHANDIGARH: After Uttar Pradesh, the Punjab government has also imposed a ban on the release of Prakash Jha's controversial Hindi film Aarakshan'(Reservation) in the state following apprehensions that some scenes and dialogues may trigger trouble.

The Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP government said the ban will remain in force till screening committee constituted by the state previews the movie and submits its report.

The decision to ban the Amitabh Bachchan-Saif Ali Khan starrer was taken after receiving intelligence reports that 'Aarakhshan' has certain scenes/dialogues which may inflame the passion of some communities in Punjab, an official spokesman said today.

Yesterday, the Mayawati government had banned the film in UP for two months on the grounds that it could create law and order problem in the state.

The decision to ban the film which is due to hit the screens on Friday was taken following a recommendation by a high level official committee set up by the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) government.

"The main theme of the movie is about commercialisation of education followed by several objectionable dialogues against people from backward communities. There is no discussion on reservation in its second half. We have asked the censor board to make necessary changes in it," National Commission for Scheduled Castes Chairman P L Punia said.

The Punjab government has constituted a seven-member committee consisting of Samir Kumar, IAS, Secretary home, Raj Kumar Atihai, Chairman Safai Karamchari Board, Punjab and Vijay Danav, chairman, Scheduled Caste Welfare Board and a member of the Punjab Scheduled Caste Commission.

Others on the committee will be V K Bhawra, Inspector General, Intelligence, vice chancellor Punjabi University, Patiala and Vice Chancellor Guru Nanak Dev University Amritsar.

The committee will give its report on Friday after viewing the film, the official said.

A nine-member team of the censor board had given a U/A certificate to the film without any cuts.

but I think I'm just being too hopeful

MUMBAI: Filmmaker Prakash Jha has agreed to make "appropriate" alterations in his film "Aarakshan", themed on caste-based reservations, after facing protests from the Republican Party of India (RPI) as well as a ban on the movie from Uttar Pradesh and Punjab."Reservation is a sensitive issue but we have kept that in mind. Political reasons could be behind the ban on the film. I will make appropriate cuts in the film as per suggestions," Jha told reporters here Thursday."Aarakshan" deals with the issue of caste-based reservations in the Indian education system, and several political parties and groups have expressed concern over its content in anticipation of anti-Dalit comments."Prakash Jha has accepted few cuts in the film," said Dalit leader and RPI chief Ramdas Athawale.The filmmaker is also in talks with the Punjab and Uttar Pradesh governments to revoke the ban."The ban has not yet been lifted. We are still trying. We are doing whatever we can, and the RPI is supporting our movie now. It will release without any problems in Maharashtra," Jha told IANS.Jha's film received a clean chit from the censor board, and was given a U/A certificate without any cuts, after it was screened for a nine-member committee. However, problems continued to plague the release of the film, which is scheduled to hit screens Friday.Earlier this week, Jha's office and home were attacked by RPI activists, who staged protests and burned posters of the film. Though the filmmaker reached a settlement with RPI Thursday, security has been stepped up at multiple multiplexes in Mumbai.Nishar Tamboli, deputy commissioner, Mumbai police, told IANS: "We have deployed a good manforce in almost all theatres in Mumbai to curb any kind of disturbance caused by anyone. As far as providing extra security is concerned, that depends on the situation after the movie is released."Security has also been provided to the film's key cast - Amitabh Bachchan, Saif Ali Khan, Deepika Padukone, Manoj Bajpayee and Prateik Babbar."We have provided security to the entire star cast of the film because there were threats to their life," said Pratap Dighavkar, deputy commissioner, Mumbai police, Zone 9.