'Why are Hindus tested every time':Lucknow HC bench during hearing of plea for ban on Adipurush film
Lucknow, Jun 27: The Allahabad High Court on Tuesday expressed concern over the way key characters of the epic Ramayana have been depicted in the controversial movie "Adipurush", saying "Hindus are tolerant but why they are tested every time".
The Lucknow bench, which was hearing a petition seeking a ban on the film, also issued a notice to the movie's Hindi dialogue writer Manoj Muntashir after allowing an application for his impleadment.
The bench declined to accept the contention that a disclaimer shown at the start of the film makes it clear it is not the Ramayana.
"When the filmmaker has shown Lord Rama, Devi Sita, Lord Laxman, Lord Hanuman, Ravan, Lanka, etc., how will the disclaimer convince the people at large that the story is not from Ramayana," the vacation bench of justices Rajesh Singh Chauhan and Shree Prakash Singh said.
It asked Deputy Solicitor General SB Pandey to seek instructions as to whether the central government was contemplating reviewing the certificate granted by the Censor Board (Central Board of Film Certification) for screening the movie.
"Hindus are tolerant but why they are tested every time? When Hindus are civilised, is it correct to suppress them," the bench said.
It made the oral observations after the petitioner's lawyer Ranjana Agnihotri said that the movie may "not only affect adversely the sentiments of the people at large, who worship Lord Rama, Devi Sita, Lord Hanuman, etc., but the manner in which the character of Ramayana has been depicted would create serious disharmony in society also".
The bench added that it is good that the controversy relates to a religion whose followers have not disturbed public order anywhere.
"We should be thankful to them. Some followers went to close the cinema halls but they got only the halls shut down, while they could have done many other things," it said.
The petitioner said nothing in the manner shown in the film has been narrated in Valmiki's Ramayana or Ramcharitmanas by Tulsidas.
"The reasons shown in the application appear to be appropriate, therefore, the impleadment application is allowed. Let Sri Manoj Muntashir @ Manoj Shukla be impleaded as the opposite party no. 15.... Let notices be issued... Steps to be taken within seven days," the bench said in the order.
"Having regard to the fact that Sri S.B. Pandey has not received complete instructions from the Union of India, more particularly, from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, opposite party no. 1 and Board of Film Certification, opposite party no. 3, he is granted 24 hours' time to seek complete instructions," the order said.
"While producing complete instructions, he shall also apprise the Court as to whether opposite party no.1 (ministry) is considering to take appropriate steps in the interest of public at large by invoking its revisional power under Section 6 of the Act, 1952," the order said.
The court was hearing two PILs filed by Kuldeep Tiwari and Naveen Dhawan.
Adipurush, a retelling of the epic Ramayana, has come under attack from some quarters over its dialogue, colloquial language and representation of some characters.
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Delhi: Couple held for stealing cash, valuables from elderly people travelling in e-rickshaws
New Delhi (PTI): A couple has been arrested for allegedly stealing cash or valuables from elderly passengers travelling in e-rickshaws in west Delhi's Moti Nagar area, police said on Sunday.
The accused has been identified as Suresh (25) and his wife, the police said, adding that they were apprehended after an investigation into the theft of Rs 1 lakh from a 60-year-old passenger earlier this week.
According to the police, the complainant, a resident of Kirti Nagar, had hired an e-rickshaw from a showroom on Shivaji Marg on May 13.
The man was carrying a small bag containing Rs 1 lakh cash. After reaching his destination, he found that the bag had been torn and the cash was missing, they said.
An e-FIR was registered at Moti Nagar police station on May 14 and an investigation was launched. A team analysed CCTV footage from the route taken by the complainant and identified the e-rickshaw allegedly used in the crime.
"Using technical surveillance and local inputs, the accused couple was traced and apprehended," a senior police officer said.
During interrogation, the accused allegedly disclosed that they used to target elderly passengers travelling in e-rickshaws and steal cash and valuables from their bags during transit without raising suspicion.
Police recovered Rs 90,000 of the stolen amount from the possession of the accused along with the e-rickshaw used in the commission of the offence.
"The accused had no previous criminal involvement on record. Further investigation is underway to ascertain whether the couple was involved in other similar theft cases targeting passengers and senior citizens in different parts of the city," the police officer added.
