Not stalling ‘Udta Punjab’ release: Sukhbir

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 9

Punjab Deputy Chief Minister and Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal today asked his opponents to stop spreading lies about a ban on the release of a film (‘Udta Punjab’) which allegedly showed Punjabis in a poor light. He claimed that such reports were a publicity stunt.

Sukhbir said the film described Punjabis as ‘kanjar’ and its land as ‘banjar’ (barren). “For us, the film in question is one of the countless films produced for commercial reasons in the country. Whether to allow its release or not is an issue between the producers and the Central Board of Film Certification. The government has nothing to do with it,” he said in a statement here today.

The Deputy CM said he would not pre-judge the issue before the film was out in the market. “We are in favour of anything that lends social, psychological or thematic support to our all-out war against drugs. For all I know, this film may even be an attempt to correct the distorted picture of Punjab as a drug haven… If so, we will welcome the movie and even support it and similar films aimed at the image correction of Punjabis,” he added.

Govt not involved: Joshi

Mohali: Vineet Joshi, Assistant Media Adviser to the Punjab government, said here today that the ruling alliance had nothing to do with the ‘Udta Punjab’ controversy. Our (the government’s) name is being dragged into the row for vested interests,” he said during an anti-drugs round table conference jointly organised by the Joshi Foundation and the Punjabi Virsa Sabhyacharak Society.

Joshi said both the Shiromani Akali Dal and the BJP stood for freedom of expression and had fought fiercely for it.

Don’t defame state: Jyani

Ferozepur:Punjab is fighting a war on drugs for which the supply line with its roots emanating from across the border was being busted with help of paramilitary forces, said Surjit Kumar Jyani, Health Minister.

He alleged certain political parties were trying to project Punjab as a drug state for their vested interests which was unfortunate.

He appealed to the political leaders to refrain from portraying a false image of the state. Jyani claimed as per a survey conducted in 10 districts, only 1.8 per cent of its population was affected due to drugs which was far below than any other state in the country.

The situation was not that bad in the state as was being projected worldwide, said Jiyani, adding that the onus was not only on the law enforcing agencies to apprehend drug traffickers, but every stakeholder of society should pitch in to root out the menace from the state.

Former state BJP chief Kamal Sharma said parents should devote maximum time with their children so that any drift or allurement towards drugs was checked at the initial stage. He said the government had taken a number of steps to prevent drug abuse.

CPM slams Nihalani

New Delhi: The CPI(M) today joined the chorus against censor board chief Pahlaj Nihalani for imposing cuts on ‘Udta Punjab’.

CPI(M) chief Sitaram Yechury said the development reeked of intolerance. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is foisting its ideologues on institutions in order to saffronise the country’s composite culture, he added.

Mayawati supports movie

Lucknow: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president Mayawati today came out in support of ‘Udta Punjab’, while accusing the SAD-BJP government of not properly addressing the growing menace of drug addiction.

“If a film has been made which raises awareness about this critical problem of drug abuse, especially among the youth, then it should be encouraged, not banned,” the BSP supremo said.

Changes in certification soon: Jaitley

New Delhi: Information and Broadcasting Minister Arun Jaitley on Thursday said movie certification norms had to be liberal and "some very radical changes" would be announced over the next few days. In his first comments on the row sparked by cuts sought by the CBFC, he said, "I won't say it's overboard. I don't know this case because I have not seen this film." He said he was "not satisfied" with the existing system of film certification. — PTI
—Arun Jaitley, Information & Broadcasting Minister

Kainth quits as CBFC member 

Ludhiana: Youth Congress leader Sunny Kainth on Thursday resigned from the post of member of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), accusing board Chairperson Pahlaj Nihalani of playing into the hands of the SAD-BJP regime. In a letter to the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Kainth said, "I am very disappointed at the ban on 'Udta Punjab', which is based on the reality of the drug racket in the state." He added that Nihalani recommended cuts in the movie without consulting CBFC members. "I do not want to be associated with a corrupt system where a film is censored just because it shows the true picture of the state," said Kainth. — TNS
—Sunny Kainth, Youth Cong Leader