There were more resignations in the Censor Board with nine members putting in their papers protesting alleged government interference, a charge rejected by I&B minister Arun Jaitley saying the government maintains an "arm's length distance" from functioning of the Board.
Jaitley further said, "It is regrettable that the UPA appointees have decided to politicise routine issues" while reacting to the resignations of some of the members.
After the resignation of Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) Chairperson Leela Samson was accepted, the Board was reduced to 23-members, according to officials. However, with nine more members quitting, the film censor body would be further reduced to 14 members, setting the stage for revamp of the body.
In their joint letter of resignation, the members including Arundhati Nag, Ira Bhaskar, Lora Prabhu, Pankaj Sharma and Rajeev Masand said the events that led to Samson resigning from her position were merely the "proverbial last straw".
"It is our firm position that given the cavalier and dismissive manner in which the CBFC is treated by the government, it is impossible to perform this duty with even a modicum of efficacy or autonomy," they added.
Samson, who headed the statutory body under the Information and Broadcasting Ministry, alleged "coercion", "corruption" and "interference" by the government in its functioning. Her resignation came amid controversy surrounding the clearance of film "Messenger of God" featuring Dera Saccha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh by the film tribunal.
However, Jaitley hit back saying, "At no point either of us (he and his junior minister Rathore) have communicated with any Member of the Censor Board or desired that any bureaucrat to do the same. I have not met or spoken to any Member of the Censor Board nor authorised anyone to do the same. It is the UPA appointed Central Censor Board which has since continued."
"If there is any corruption, the UPA appointees have themselves to blame. I only wished that the fact of corruption had been communicated even once by the Chairperson of the Censor Board to me. The non-functional Chairperson never did so. The charge that meetings of the Censor Board are not being held is a Self Condemnation," the minister said.
Jaitley said the meetings of the Censor Board are to be convened not by the Minister or the Secretary but by the Chairperson. "If the meetings are not being convened, it is for those responsible for non-functioning who must blame themselves," he said.
Earlier, Samson had claimed that the Board had not met for over nine months as the ministry had no funds to permit the meeting of members.
"I have checked up from officials of the Ministry who informed that the funds for the Censor Board have been returned to the Ministry as unspent by the Board," the I&B minister said in his post rebutting Samson's charge.
Jaitley said that the legal regime with regard to the functioning of the Censor Board is clear as per which an aggrieved producer has a right to move the Appeal Tribunal. The Senior Minister also attacked Congress, saying the party has politicised even membership of the Appeal Tribunal.
"We have restored its dignity by appointing a former Judge of high credibility as Chairperson. If an Appeal Tribunal disagrees with the Board, it is a part of the due process of law and not an onslaught on Board's autonomy. Can a subordinate judicial authority ever cry foul if its decision (is) upset by an appellate authority?," Jaitley said.
His remarks can be seen in the context of the controversy over the 'Messenger of God' whose makers approached the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal.
The NDA Government, Jaitley asserted, maintains "arm's length distance" in all matters relating to film certification and accused the earlier UPA Government of having politicised the Censor Board.
"In 2004 they dismissed the existing Censor Board headed by an eminent Film actor Anupam Kher merely on the ground that Anupam Kher was appointed by the earlier Government. We did not wish to do that. It is regrettable that the UPA appointees have decided to politicise routine issues," Jaitley said.
Earlier, in their joint letter to the ministry, the resigning members of the Censor Board had claimed that the advisory panel continues to be filled up with people of "questionable credentials" appointed directly by the Ministry, without taking the Board's recommendations into account.
Officers from other departments, who have no understanding or experience in cinema, are appointed as officials, they had lamented.