Ambika Soni backs censor board on 'Aarakshan'

NEW DELHI: I&B minister Ambika Soni on Friday backed the censor board's decision to clear the controversial Prakash Jha film "Aarakshan" with no cuts saying concerns related to backward communities had been addressed.
The minister said the film was reviewed by a panel of eminent people from the backward community. Her statement comes at a time when the film -- based on reservation in educational institutions — has been banned by three states on the charge that it may hurt dalit sentiments.
Ruling out the ministry's intervention in the matter, Soni said, "I stand behind the decision of the censor board...My ministry has no role nor can it intervene."
Jha has moved the Supreme Court against the ban.
To a question why the I&B ministry would not intervene, Soni said, "In the Cinematograph Act, there was some scope for intervention earlier. But in 2000, that right was taken away by the Supreme Court. As of today, the ministry has no right to intervene." She said the Central Board of Film Certification was an autonomous body and it had been reconstituted recently.
The minister added that the board that previews a film usually consists of 4-5 people. But for "Aarakshan", the board was expanded to nine people. Among those who had previewed the film were Nandu S Bansode, Rajaram Tanawade, Jayashree Kamble and Laishram Mema. Dalit activist Ragini Tilak and retired Justice Mukul Mudgal were also asked to assist the committee. The committee gave the film a U/A certificate and only advised a change in one word which was agreed to by Jha.
About the ministry's stand on states banning the film, Soni said, "It is the states' responsibility and states should know why they are banning the film. The producers and directors of the film have organised film screenings at many places and shown to people who have some doubts. Law and order is the state's responsibility."