‘MSG’ row: Censor board in doldrums

Tribune News Service & PTI

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New Delhi, January 16

The controversy over the clearance to the film “Messenger of God” took a new twist today with another censor board member resigning in support of its chairperson Leela Samson. 

The government, on it part, rejected allegations of "coercion" and "interference" in its functioning.

A high alert has been sounded in Punjab and Haryana amid protests across the two states and in Delhi against the proposed release of the movie on Sunday.

The controversial Dera Sacha Sauda sect chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, on whom the movie is based, said at a press conference in Gurgaon that the film did not target any religious section.

The reported clearance by the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal (FCAT) created turbulence in Delhi when Ira Bhaskar, a member of Central Board of Film Certification, decided to resign in solidarity with Samson, who quit last night.

Citing “interference, coercion and corruption of panel members and officers”, Samson had tendered her resignation. Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, however, rejected all charges.  He also said he hasn’t received  a copy of Leela’s resignation.

Even though official orders for the film’s release from the FCAT are awaited, Sikh organisations, INLD supporters and others staged protests saying the film’s release would disturb communal harmony and law and order. 

Sources told The Tribune that state governments have been told that if it was felt that the movie could create a law and order problem, they were free to stop its screening.

Trashing Samson's allegations, Rathore said he did not have a copy of her resignation. He denied any "coercion or interference from the government on granting clearance to the film."

“The ministry does not have the power to intervene in the functioning of the FCAT. If the appellate tribunal has decided in its favour, because we still do not know whether it has, we respect the decision. It is the decision of a body headed by a retired Supreme Court judge. Just because your (Samson’s) decision has been turned down by a superior board, it does not mean that there is corruption,” he said.

The minister said the tenure of the board was over last year and the members had been given an extension till new members were appointed. 

“This censor board came into existence with the previous government’s order. The chairperson of the censor board is an honorary, privileged appointment. All through her tenure, she does not speak of corruption. Now at the end of the tenure, she is talking of corruption with some false and vague accusations.

The FCAT is believed to have given clearance to the ‘MSG’ with certain riders.