leela Samson and group protest too much
looked at fairly, it does seem that Ms leela Samson and her supporters in the Central Board of Film Certification decided to splash their liberal credentials because they wanted to exit in a blaze of glory. They latched on to a reason which came by their way rather serendipitously: The clearance for the release of the film, The Messenger of God, starring the controversial godman and head of Dera Sacha Sauda, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Insan. Ms Samson and her supporters in the CBFC, or the Censor Board as it is popularly known, who opposed the go-ahead to the film, tendered their resignations in protest.
They lashed out at the Government for its ‘interference' and alleged that certain members of the panel were ‘corrupt'. Ms Samson and group also questioned the speedy clearance to the film. It is easy to fling allegations and use those accusations to complicate an issue. But, much as Ms Samson and her supporters try to muddy the waters, the facts are not going to melt away. And these facts do not substantiate the crusading credentials the former CBFC chief hopes to project to the world. let us deal with the principal allegation that The Messenger of God received a hasty clearance.
The film's release had been scheduled for Friday. It was not released because the Examining Committee and the Revising Committee of the Censor Board did not favour the film's certification. The Revising Committee thereafter referred the issue to the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal, which is the adjudicating body in case of such disputes. The FCAT cleared the film. The accusation that the FCAT acted too swiftly to appear bipartisan and that it did so because it wanted to favour the film and its hero, who is said to be close to the BJP, is mere conjecture. Members of the FCAT do not owe their allegiance to the ruling party at the Centre. Also, the established process of dealing with the controversial film was scrupulously followed. It is, therefore, difficult to understand Ms Samson's grievance.
The former Censor Board Chairperson’s other allegation — that Board members are corrupt — is an irresponsible remark. She has not offered an iota of evidence to back her grave accusation. Just as she has not given any specific evidence to substantiate her charge that the Union Government has interfered in the functioning of the Censor Board. In fact, Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore has challenged her to provide evidence of such interference. Moreover, are we to understand that Ms Samson and her supporters have only now — seven months after the Narendra Modi regime assumed charge — suddenly discovered evils in the GovernmentIJ Had the Centre harboured hostility towards her, she would have been eased out months ago.
Notably, Ms Samson had grievances even during the Congress-led UPA regime too, but she had refused to precipitate matters. Several controversial films had been certified during that period, but Ms Samson seemed perfectly at ease with those developments. It is difficult to believe that the Congress-led regime, which had been interfering even in Supreme Court-monitored probes of the Central Bureau of Investigation, had kept its hands of the Censor Board. But none of that solicited the vehement response now on display. If anybody has played politics on the issue, it is Ms Samson and her band of loyalists.