PONDA: The National Hindu Movement (NHM) has demanded the establishment of a censor board for tiatrs, which it claimed are being used to hurt religious sentiments and make personal attacks. It stated that such incidents are on the rise and are disturbing the social and religious harmony in the State.
NHM has also demanded a ban on the film ‘Bajirao Mastani’ for distorting history and a ban on the use of public money for “appeasement of minorities” by the Telangana government.
The demands were made during a demonstration by NHM at the old Ponda bus stand on Sunday. The protest is part of campaign being conducted by Hindu groups across the country.
While demanding a censor board for tiatrs, NHM member Dr Manoj Solanki cited the controversial song by Francis de Tuem, tiatr ‘Akantawadi Goyant Naka’ by Tousif de Navelim, and Konkani play ‘Avois, Khatkhatyatlo Chano,’ which hurt the sentiments of Hindus. He claimed that such tiatrs and plays are produced to gain cheap publicity and make money, and is a classic example of misusing freedom of expression.
Regarding the film ‘Bajirao Mastani’, Solanki stated during the times of Peshwas, women of royalty did not dance the way it was shown in the film, but the director did not seem to have studied their royal traditions and relied solely on the ostentatious traditions of Bollywood. He added that it is essential to ban the film as it was made only to make money by damaging the ideal family system during the Peshwa rule.
Regarding the third demand, Solanki said that Telangana government wanted to celebrate Christmas in 195 churches and distribute clothes to 2 lakh Christians. Stating that all religions should be treated equally by a government that boasted of being secular, Solanki demanded that the Telangana government be stopped from using public money to appeas minorities.
