The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Ban on films criticised

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jun 11, 2006

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Ban on films criticised

Staff Reporter

`Move against the spirit of democracy'

A RIGHT TURN: Chief Minister of West Bengal Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee signing on a huge banner put up by the Praja Natya Mandali city committee against the ban on Hindi movie `Fanaa' and the English film `The Da Vinci Code', outside Jubilee Hall, the v enue of the party's three-day Central Committee meeting, which concluded in Hyderabad on Saturday. — Photo: Mohammed Yousuf

HYDERABAD: City unit of the Praja Natya Mandali started a signature campaign against what it called the trend of scuttling freedom of expression.

Condemning the ban on film `Da Vinci Code' in Andhra Pradesh and other States and prevention of screening of `Fanaa' in Gurajat, Praja Natya Mandali said the move is tantamount to obstructing freedom of expression and the spirit of democracy.

Every one was equal in the eyes of law and allowing some fundamentalist forces to impose their views on Government and the interpretation of law on the pretext that it would hurt sentiments of some was highly improper.

By agreeing to such demands, the Government would only be yielding to the dictates of religious fundamentalists, the Praja Natya Mandali alleged.

Praja Natya Mandali city secretary N. Maranna said that such decision by Governments would damage secular fabric of Indian society.

Several senior leaders of Left parties and Left party wings endorsed their signatures in the campaign against attempts to ride roughshod over democratic outlook and freedom of expression.

They appealed to all those who respect democratic values to participate in the signature campaign.

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