The Hindu : Karnataka News : Cabinet to discuss film industry crisis

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Nov 26, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka

Cabinet to discuss film industry crisis

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE, NOV. 25. The Chief Minister, N. Dharam Singh, has assured the agitating Kannada film industry that the Government will convene a Cabinet meeting soon to sort out its problems.

He was responding to a memorandum submitted to him by thespian Rajkumar at the launch of the agitation by the Kannada film industry here today.

Mr. Dharam Singh said the Government was aware of the gravity of the problems being faced by the industry. It was also aware of the legal compulsions and complications involved in the demands and counter-demands being made by sections of the industry. His Government was committed to the cause of Kannada and the overall development of the State, he added.

The otherwise peaceful gathering at the venue came in for a shock when some persons threw slippers at the scaffolding put atop a vehicle from where Mr. Dharam Singh was addressing the gathering outside the west gate of the Vidhana Soudha.

Mr. Rajkumar urged the agitators to maintain peace and hoped that the Government would take steps to set things right and help in the growth of the film industry. "The objective of this agitation is to fight for our survival and not intended against non-Kannada people of the State. We believe in the policy of live and let live," he said.

Activities suspended

All the activities of the film industry and work on television serials, including shooting, editing and dubbing, came to a halt today. Barring a few, cinemas in the city downed their shutters.

However, sources said the film industry might suspend its agitation as the Government was likely to take up the issue at its Cabinet meeting on Friday.

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