India censors resign over alleged government interference

NEW DELHI: India's censorship board has been hit by mass resignations over the past few days.

The chief censor of India's Central Board of Film Certification Leela Samson and nine other members had resigned in protest of the government's clearance of the film Messenger of God. It features popular guru Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh preaching and also beating up gangsters. Singh is a flamboyant character, known as "guru in bling" to his followers.

The board had deemed the film unfit for public viewing on fears that it could create religious tensions, but the film was cleared after it had gone to an appeals tribunal.

"When a film is sent to the Appeals Tribunal, it takes at least two weeks to reach a consensus, said Ira Bhaskar, one of the censorship board members who resigned. My question is why was this film given precedence over others and cleared in just 24 hours. If every film has to be sent to the Tribunal, then what is the need for the Central Board for Film Certification?"

The Information and Broadcasting Ministry, which controls the censorship and appeals process has however, denied any interference.

"There is a retired justice heading the appellate tribunal, there is a Supreme Court advocate in the appellate tribunal and there is very senior journalist in the tribunal, said Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, Indian Junior Minister for Information and Broadcasting. They have taken a decision that will be made public very soon. We respect all that as a government and we don't interfere in the decisions of the entire process of the film certification."

Meanwhile, several groups representing the Sikh community opposed to the film held protests across northern India following its clearance. They claim Singh, who is said to have over 50 million followers is also facing murder and rape charges in several courts, has insulted and belittled their faith in the film.

For now, the film's release has been delayed over this row and its fate would be known only once it is officially released. This controversy, however, has cast light on the simmering tensions between the government and the regulatory framework of the film certification body.

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India censors resign over alleged government interference