Miffed with film's clearance, 8 Censor Board members quit with Leela Samson

                                   

After Censor Board chief Leela Samson, eight more members of Censor Board resigned on Saturday amid a row over controversial film Messenger of God featuring Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh.

Ira Bhaskar, Lora Prabhu, Pankaj Sharma, Rajeev Masand, Sekharbabu Kancherla, Shaji Karun, Shubhra Gupta and TG Thyagarajan have sent a joint resignation letter to Minister of State in the Information and Broadcasting Ministry Rajyavardhan Rathore.

"The events that led to the chairperson Ms Leela Samson resigning from her position are merely the proverbial last straw. Since the time that we first occupied seats on the Board, we have been asking for some critical changes, which are imperative if the functioning of the CBFC has to be reformed. However, in spite of sending numerous recommendations and appeals, and having several meetings with the Secretaries and senior officials of the ministry, and even one with an earlier minister, not a single positive step has been taken by the ministry," the letter said.

Earlier, Censor Board chief Leela Samson resigned amidst reports that controversial film Messenger of God featuring Dera Sacha Sauda leader Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in lead role has been cleared by Film Certification Appellate Tribunal (FCAT).  

Samson had triggered a controversy after she levelled allegations of coercion and interference by the ministry and said she had decided to quit the censor board.

Her resignation came in the wake of FCAT clearing Ram Rahim Singh's movie for release even though the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) had withheld it.

Censor Board chief Leela Samson resigns over Dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh's film Messenger of God

Censor Board chief Leela Samson has quit amidst reports that controversial film Messenger of God featuring Dera Sacha Sauda leader Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in lead role has been cleared by Film Certification Appellate Tribunal (FCAT).  

When asked if she was aware of reports that the nod has been given by FCAT to the film's screening, Samson said, "I hear so. Nothing in writing yet. It is a mockery of Central Board of Film Certification. My resignation is final. Have informed the (I&B) Secretary", PTI reported.

Asked why she has decided to quit, she did not specifically refer to the reported clearance to the film but said the reasons cited are alleged "interference, coercion and corruption of panel members and officers of the organisation who are appointed by the ministry."

According to Samson, "...having to manage an organisation whose Board has not met for over nine months as the ministry had no funds to permit the meeting of members."

She said the term of all the members and the Chairperson of the Censor Board are over. But since the new government failed to appoint a new Board and chairperson, a few were given extension and asked to carry on till the procedure was completed.

"However, recent cases of interference in the working of the CBFC by the ministry, through an 'additional charge' CEO, and corrupt panel members has caused a degradation of those values that the members of this Board of CBFC and Chairperson stood for," Samson alleged.

 

Meanwhile, a spokesman of Sirsa (Haryana) - based Dera Sacha Sauda said "as per our information, FCAT has cleared the movie for release. But a written order is awaited."

On January 12, Samson had said "it has been unanimously decided to refer the film to FCAT".

The Dera spokesman said the movie "is against drugs and there is nothing objectionable" in it.

The Union Home Ministry has been concerned that the release of the film may evoke protests from some quarters as certain Sikh organisations have been opposing the movie.

The Home Ministry had sent an advisory to states that "various Sikh organisations and individuals are opposing the movie on the ground that its release would disturb the communal harmony and law and order. They also opine that glorification of DSS chief, facing serious criminal cases, should not be allowed".

The Home Ministry said tension between DSS followers and Sikhs always remain a potential flash point in view of ongoing rivalry between Sikhs and the Dera followers.