Decision on `Water' left to Govt.: BJP

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, FEB. 2. The BJP today said it was for the Union Government to reconsider the permission granted to Ms. Deepa Mehta to shoot the film Water in Varanasi in the light of representations from some groups in the city that the film hurts the sentiments of the people.

Answering questions at the regular press briefing, the BJP general secretary, Mr. M. Venkaiah Naidu, cited the examples of the ban on Salman Rushdie's book Satanic Verses and the ban on the play Me Nathuram Bolte to prove his contention that in public interest the government could intervene and stop individuals from certain actions.

On the stand of BJP, Mr. Naidu said that the shooting of the film should not be allowed if it hurt the sentiments of the people. At the same time he maintained that BJP was opposed to violence and vandalism.

However, he repeatedly said artists should be responsive to sentiments of the people and should refrain from doing anything which hurt the religious sentiments. ``We are for a solution to the problem. Either the artists should respond to the sentiments of the people or the Government in Uttar Pradesh should be in a position to take appropriate steps to enable the film unit to go ahead with the shooting.''

Asked how the BJP-led Government at the Centre had permitted the shooting whereas the Government in Uttar Pradesh had not allowed it, the BJP spokesman said: ``The Information and Broadcasting Minister does not whet each and every script and has therefore given permission. However, the people in Varanasi had taken exception to the shooting of the film which forced the State Government to stop the film. In the light of these developments the Union Government could reconsider its permission.''.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : National
Previous : 'Britain will consult India on bond scheme'
Next     : A deep-rooted conspiracy: VHP