JOIN USAmid the raging controversy, Deputy Chief Minister and Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal said on Thursday that “he would not prejudge the issue (Udta Punjab) before the film is out.”
Badal said the government has not banned the film. “Whether to or not to allow its release is an issue between the producers and the Central Board of Film Certification. The government has nothing to do with it,” said Badal.
“For all I know, the film in question may even be an attempt to correct the distorted picture of Punjab as drug haven painted by some opportunistic non-Punjabi persons, political parties and leaders. If so, we will welcome the film,” said Badal.
He clarified that it was absurd to even suggest a governmental intervention at this stage.
“Neither the chief minister nor me or anyone else at the political or administrative level in the government or the party has seen the film so far. So how can we take a call on whether or not the film would affect the peaceful atmosphere in the state through a vulgar and humiliating presentation of present day Punjab and Punjabis,” Badal added.
Cong’s take
Punjab Congress president Capt Amarinder Singh said he will release an uncensored version of the movie in Majitha town in Amritsar district on June 17, the scheduled date of the release of the movie.
“I have purposely chosen Majitha for the release of the movie, as not only has the town turned into Punjab’s Mexico, but also for the reason that the name has become synonymous with ‘chitta’ (the synthetic drug) that has destroyed and devastated an entire generation in Punjab,” the state Congress chief said.
Capt Amarinder said he has written to the producers of the movie, Anurag Kashyap and Ekta Kapoor, urging them to provide the uncensored CDs. The opposition Congress is lending all support to the movie which is based on the spiralling menace of drugs in Punjab.
DH News Service