Protests by Bajrang Dal, Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Hindu Sena spread to more cities over screening of the film PK. Demonstrators burnt posters of the movie and vandalised cinema halls in several parts of the country, including New Delhi, Odisha, Guwahati, Bareilly, Silchar, and Hyderabad demanding ban on the film for allegedly hurting religious sentiments. But the Centre has expressed helplessness in recalling the film after it has been cleared by the Censor Board.
Saddened by the act, director of the film Rajkumar Hirani said that he respected all religions and PK upheld true spirit of religion. He rejected allegations that the movie was disrespectful to Hinduism. Minister of State (MoS) for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore on Tuesday said when a film comes up for release, the Censor Board certifies it and has the authority to see, review the film and ask for certain deletions.
“But once the Censor Board certifies a film, thereafter the Supreme Court’s guidelines are very clear, there have been past precedent also....And the High Court is very clear on it that the Central Government cannot act on a film thereafter,” Rathore said.
He added that State Governments could act depending on the law and order situation and citizens are also free to approach courts in case they have grievances. “So this is a good time for the citizens of this country to know that the I&B Ministry or the Central Government has no authority to act on any film once it has been released,” he added.
The Aamir Khan, Anushka Sharma and Sanjay Dutt starrer film, which takes a swipe at Godmen, has so far earned Rs246.32 crore and its popularity is only rising. In fact, Salman Khan reacted by saying: “Is PK not an amazzziiiiing filmIJ”
In a statement, Hirani said he had no intention to hurt anyone’s sentiments and maintained that the film upholds the true spirit of religion while condemning only abuse of it. “I’m deeply saddened and concerned about the protests by some groups against our film PK. On behalf of the entire team of PK, I would like to clarify that we respect all religions and faiths. Our film is inspired by the ideas of Sant Kabir and Mahatma Gandhi. It is a film, which brings to fore the thought that all humans who inhabit this planet are the same. There are no differences,” Hirani said while appealing to protesting groups to see the film in totality and not just isolated scenes.
“Our intention is not to hurt anyone, or to discriminate against any religion. I would once again like to assure them that I have the highest regard towards all religions, and that we respect all religions and faiths.” After protests in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Mumbai and Uttar Pradesh, the protests by the right wing outfits broke out in Delhi, Odisha, Assam, Haryana and Hyderabad. Some protesters were arrested or detained, police said.
Activists of Bajrang Dal and Hindu Sena staged a protest outside Delite cinema hall in Central Delhi and demanded that an FIR be registered against its makers and the star cast.In Assam, the activists vandalised and stopped screening of the film in two cinema halls in Silchar. Police said they have arrested three activists of Bajrang Dal, who stormed the ‘Gold’ and ‘Oriental Talkies’.
In Odisha, the supporters of Bajrang Dal and VHP attacked two cinema halls in Bhubaneswar, demanding ban on screening of the movie. Alleging that the film hurts sentiments of majority Hindus, about a hundred activists barged into the Keshari theatre and pulled down posters and promotional materials of the movie.
Meanwhile, the Congress condemned the vandalism against the film and charged that the BJP Government was “complicit in its silence”. “Condemn acts of vandalism by Bajrang Dal and other fringe elements against movie PK. Would (PM Narendra) Modi ask CM Gujarat to act against hooligansIJ Or at least condemn it on his TwitterIJ No he won’t because he believes in what his Hooligan Bajrang Dal Gang is doing. Ugly face of Fascism,” Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh tweeted. Former I&B Minister Manish Tewari said the attack on PK assaults the freedom of speech and expression.
Several Bollywood celebrities came out in support of the film. Karan Johar said: “Attacking a duly censored film has to stop! What kind of a democracy are we living inIJIJ No film should be targeted or be allowed to... #PK.”
“I found PK very entertaining. But I still admire the amazing selfless work some of our spiritual leaders are doing for our people #PKdebate,” filmmaker Shekhar Kapur said. Actor Ranvir Shorey posted, “I would say these morons vandalising against PK should go get jobs, except that we all know this is their livelihood.”
But Yoga guru Ramdev said that tradition and faith of people should not be hurt. “The film PK, as people have told me, has two things. One, it contains objectionable scenes of Hindu Gods and Goddesses, which is not right. But secondly, it has exposed those people who misuse the name of God for their personal profit and call themselves as God. However, the tradition and faith of people should not be hurt.” Ramdev said.