The Hindu : National : Surjeet must apologise: Kher

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Oct 15, 2004

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National

Surjeet must apologise: Kher

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, OCT. 14. A day after he was removed from the office of the Chairman, Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), Anupam Kher today sent a legal notice to the general secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), Harkishan Singh Surjeet, demanding an apology for describing him as an "RSS man."

In the Capital to stage his play Kuch Bhi Ho Sakta Hai, Mr. Kher addressed the press this afternoon and said his lawyers were exploring the possibility of challenging the Government's decision to replace him. Maintaining that he would go to the CBFC office on his return to Mumbai, he also used the official letterhead of the Board Chairman to issue his press release.

The legal notice sent to the CPI(M) general secretary gives him 48 hours to either substantiate the claim that Mr. Kher was an RSS person or tender an apology; failing which he would be constrained to initiate defamation proceedings against Mr. Surjeet. "I may not win the case, but someone ought to tell Mr. Surjeet that he cannot make irresponsible statements."

Assails Congress

Describing the turn of events as a case of McCarthyism, Mr. Kher also trained his guns on the Congress. "What is happening to the party of Gandhi and Nehru? For 60 seats, they are giving up that legacy." He said the current dispensation at the Centre had proved it was no better than the earlier Government led by the Bharatiya Janata Party. "The Congress is so dependent on the Left that if asked to bend, they will crawl."

About Mr. Surjeet's description of him being an RSS man in his lead article in the CPI(M) official organ, People's Democracy, Mr. Kher said: "I have never campaigned for any party." Also, he described as ridiculous the Information & Broadcasting Ministry's contention that he had no time for CBFC. "If absconding Ministers can hold office, I, too, can discharge my duties as CBFC chairperson along with my acting assignments."

Denying the charge that the Board had dragged its feet in clearing the controversial film on the Gujarat violence, `Final Solution,' Mr. Kher said it had been cleared without a single cut because of his intervention. As to whether the film industry was with him in his fight against the Government, the actor said he was in it alone as of now. In fact, this was a point he underscored time and again through his press conference.

What has peeved Mr. Kher the most is that the Government did not give him "one solitary reason" while asking him to step down.

Conspiracy

Stating that "the man and the artist within me cannot be tied down like a dog to the ideology of any one political group," Mr. Kher in his statement said: "This sudden unexplained action of the Government exposes a well-designed conspiracy to divide us into different political groups. It only further polarises our already polarised society."

Mr. Kher continues to hold the office of Chairman of the National School of Drama (NSD), an autonomous body under the Union Culture Ministry which is also headed by the I&B Minister, S. Jaipal Reddy.

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