Attack on Bhansali threatens creativity: Jaya in RS

The alleged assault on Director Sanjay Leela Bhansali and his crew on the sets of "Padmavati" today figured in Rajya Sabha with actress-turned-politician Jaya Bachchan saying the incident has threatened creativity.

Raising the issue in the House during the Zero Hour, she said intolerance is growing in the country and a "select few" assume that they represent the masses, "under certain political patronage", and take law and order in their hands. They have no respect for constitutional values or the law of the land.

Bachchan (SP) said the film fraternity, which strives to bring fictional stories to people through creativity for the sole purpose of entertainment with some moral and social message, has been the "soft target for these anti-social elements".

"Sometime they are threatened, sometime films are not allowed be screened, sets are vandalised and sometimes it takes a violent turn as it happened in Jaipur recently.

"...Sets of Padmavati, where Rajput Karni Sena not only physically assaulted the Director, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, but also damaged the expensive film equipments," she said.

Bhansali, she said, is a renowned director has made great films and added that he had also staged the "same subject of Padmavati" as an opera in a Paris theatre in 2008.

Bachchan further said neither the state government, nor the Centre has condemned the incident or taken action against the culprits.

"What message are we sending to the film fraternity which is one of the most important and vibrant ambassador of the country. Creativity should not be subjected to such treatment," she said and demanded strong action against those involved in the incident.

Bachchan said the film faternity has long been fighting the menace with little or no support from the government.

The film industry creates large number of employment oppourtunities and such disruptions affects the earnings of the sector.

Last month, Bhansali was allegedly roughed up by members of a Rajput community group, who also stopped the shooting of the film by damaging the set at Jaigarh Fort, alleging that the director was "distorting facts" in the movie which is about Alauddin Khilji's obsession with Rani Padmavati.


In his Zero Hour mention, Vijayasai Reddy (YSR-CP) raised concern over the spread of swine-flu in the country. Referring to Andhra Pradesh, he said that in 2016, as many as 12 swine-flu cases were reported, of which five resulted in death. In January 2017 alone, he said 26 cases have been reported in the state and six deaths have taken place.

He complained that medical authorities are "totally unaware" about the flu and no awareness was being spread among the masses. Reddy asked the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to create awarness among the public to check spread of swine-flu. Sanjiv Kumar (JMM) raised the problems faced by Santhal tribe in Jharkhand, saying the community has been fighting for generations and facing bullets to defend their rights.

He said land has been acquired in the state in the name of development but the people of the most-rich state have remained very poor and a large number have migrated elsewhere. CPI leader D Raja highlighted the plight of people engage in manual scavenging, saying despite being banned, the casteist practice was continuing and it was a matter of "shame". He said about 2 lakh dalit families are still forced to clean human excreta.

Raja said the court had ordered to pay Rs 10 lakh to families of those who have lost their lives while cleaning sewer and septic tanks, but till date the order has not been implemented. Citing data, he said about 1,300 people have lost their lives while cleaning sewer and manholes. He wanted to know by when the government will come out with a  "deadline" to stop manual scavenging.

Referring to yesterday's earthquake, Pramod Tiwari (Cong) attacked the Centre for its "step motherly treatment" of non-BJP ruled states during natural disasters. He alleged that the Centre's attitude towards Uttar Pradesh and Uttrakhand has been of "enemity". Taking a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Tiwari said whereever he goes something happens and cited the earthquake in Nepal, Afghanistan and Pakistan following his visits to those counties.

The Congress member said "sins" of this government have increased and "the Prime Minister should not visit Uttarakhand" which was hit by earthquake yesterday. To this, Ministry of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the Prime Minister and government was sensitive. However, "if there is quake in Congress, Modi Ji cannot help", Naqvi said taking a jibe.