After ban threat, 'Aarakshan' will be caste anew

Divisive politics

But hours ahead of the release of the socio-political drama, ‘Aarakshan’ director Prakash Jha agreed to delete certain controversial scenes and dialogues which pro-rese­rvationists said could harm the interests of the educationally backward classes. Jha also entered into a deal with the Republican Party of India (RPI) to ensure that the film is released without any hitches in UP and Punjab.

The Punjab government banned the release of the film apprehending law and order problems after getting intelligence inputs that some scenes and dialogues in the film could inflate tempers. The Akali Dal-BJP combine government said the ban will remain in force till the seven-member screening committee set up by the state government previewed the movie and submitted its report, which could be out as early as Friday.

With Assembly elections less than six months away, the state government is not willing to take any chance.  But Chairman of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes Chairman P L Punia said, “The main theme of the movie is about commercialisation of education followed by several objectionable dialogues against people from backward communities. There is no discussion on reservation in its second half. We have asked the censor board to make necessary changes in it”.

In Hyderabad, the government imposed the ban on the film’s release following the opinion of a committee which previewed the film and concluded that certain scenes in the movie could be objectionable to weaker sections of the society.

Earlier, leaders of Andhra Pradesh Scheduled Castes Welfare Association led by Congress leader Mallu Ravi, called on DGP Dinesh Reddy and Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy demanding a ban on the film. They also demonstrated before the secretariat and the DGP’s office.

However, “Aarakshan” will be released without hassles in Jaipur on Friday. A special screening of the movie was organised and the caste outfits, Sri Rajput Karani Sena and Sarva Brahmin Mahasabha, withdrew their objection to the movie after two controversial dialogues, which the organisations objected to, were deleted.

“The audio of the objectionable dialogues has been deleted from the movie. Thus, our protest is withdrawn,” said Pundit Suresh Mishra, president of the Sarva Brahmin Maha Sabha. Also the members were satisfied with the movie’s stand that it not at all affects the reservation demand raised by these outfits for upper castes.

“We were suspicious that the movie talks about no-reservation policy for the general category castes. But the movie has nothing as such,” said Syam Pratap Singh, state coordinator of the Karani Sena.