Prayagraj (UP) (PTI): Prominent Hindu seer Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati on Thursday issued guidelines for filmmakers asking them to refrain from "criticising, disrespecting or ridiculing" Sanatan Dharma.

The seer had on January 3 constituted the 'Dharma Censor Board' to review Bollywood films and keep a check on any "anti-religious" content or distortion of facts about Sanatan Dharma.

Addressing newspersons at the ongoing Magh Mela here, Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati said the guidelines are being conveyed to all filmmakers and they are expected to no longer include scenes and dialogues "criticising, disrespecting or ridiculing Sanatan Dharma" in their films.

"The guidelines are based on the policy of 'jhonko, toko and roko' (talk, intervene, stop)," he said, adding that if the filmmakers do not pay heed, legal route will be adopted.

"A legal cell has also been created for this," he said.

Talking about the Dharma Censor Board, Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati said, "Our experts will see a film when it is released and if we find it suitable for people belonging to Sanatan Dharma, we will issue a certificate."

"At present, films passed by the censor board set up by the government have been found carrying scenes that hurt the sentiments of people. We have repeatedly asked for a religious person to be included in the censor board but this demand has not been accepted. This is why we had to constitute our own board," he said.

Clarifying that the Dharma Censor Board "will act as an assistant to the censor board of the government", the seer said, "We are not questioning their censor board."

Shankaracharya's media in-charge, Shailendra Yogi said the Dharma Censor Board will also ensure that film titles do not hurt religious sentiments of people or disrespect any deity or seers.

The work of this board will not be limited to films or serials, but also cover theatre productions in schools, colleges and universities, he said.

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Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday took a swipe at Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy, by calling him a "Manuvadi" after his alliance with the BJP, for seeking the inclusion of Bhagavad Gita in curriculum for students.

The CM's dig came in response to Kumaraswamy's recent letter to Union Minister for Education Dharmendra Pradhan, requesting the inclusion of the Bhagavad Gita in the curriculum of students.

"After Kumaraswamy joined hands with the BJP for elections, he has become a Manuvadi," Siddaramaiah told reporters here after paying tributes to B R Ambedkar on his 69th death anniversary here.

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Remembering Ambedkar, Siddaramaiah highlighted his contribution to the Constitution and his relentless fight to provide social justice.

The CM noted said fed up with social and caste system in Hinduism, and unable to reform it, Ambedkar accepted Buddhism.

He said, "Ambedkar, towards the end of his life, quit Hinduism and joined Buddhism. He was born in Hinduism, but cannot die in Hinduism, because he could not reform Hinduism, despite several efforts, so he accepted Buddhism."