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Growing religious 'intolerance' has to be 'nipped in the bud', observes Delhi High Court

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Bajrang Dal

New Delhi: Growing instances of religious “intolerance” have to be “nipped in the bud” as the country can “ill-afford” that they spread like “wild fire”, Delhi High Court has observed.

Dismissing a PIL against Aamir Khan’s block buster ‘PK’, a bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice RS Endlaw said “the present petition is an instance of a growing tendency in the country of intolerance and which tendency has to be nipped in the bud and unless done so, is likely to spread like wild fire and which the country can ill-afford.” The bench also observed that just as the Constitution protected the right of an artist to portray social reality in all its forms, seeing a film was a conscious choice of the spectator and those offended by the content or the theme of a particular film were free to avoid watching it.

The High Court said the film, which broke the box office records with over Rs 600 crore global business, illustrated the social evil prevalent and cannot be considered as contemptuous of the essential tenets and beliefs of Hindu religion or as promoting communal attitude.

“We are unable to hold the film or any sequence thereof being contemptuous of the essential tenets and beliefs of Hindu religion or as promoting communal attitude. The said sequences have to be necessarily shown to illustrate the social evil prevalent,” it further said in a recent order.

The bench dismissed the PIL seeking directions to delete “objectionable” scenes from ‘PK’ claiming that the contents of the film have hurt the religious sentiments of Hindus.

“The petitioner is assuming that the faith and belief of persons in their religion, whether it be Hindu or any other, is so frail as to be shaken or be scandalized by the depictions in the film to which objection is taken. The said assumption in our view is totally mistaken.

“The sequences of the film to which objection is taken are in the nature of a satire bordering on parody on certain Hindu customs and practices. The said sequences in the film can thus also be seen as socially beneficial, helping a better understanding of the religion,” the court said.

The bench further said that “in a diverse country as ours, citizens and residents profess nearly all religions, people are used to a high level tolerance in the matters of religion”.

“The Constitution protects the right of the artist to portray social reality in all its forms. Some of that portrayal may take the form of questioning values and mores that are prevalent in society,” it said.

The High Court also said that watching a film is a conscious choice of the spectator and those offended by the content or the theme of a particular film are free to avoid watching the film.

The High Court was hearing a PIL filed by a local priest Ajay Gautam seeking directions to delete “objectionable” scenes from the movie ‘PK’ claiming that the contents of the film have hurt the religious sentiments of Hindus.

(PTI)

‘Claims of scientific proofs in Hindu scriptures amount to mockery of myths:’ Girish Karnad

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Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy, The Hindu

Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy, The Hindu

Bengaluru: Jnanpith Award-winning writer Girish Karnad has warned against picking out details and characters from ancient Indian mythology to argue that they are proof of scientific advance in ancient times.

Participating in a discussion organised by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) here on Saturday, the writer said that those who attempt to find proof of scientific advance in scriptures are indeed insulting and mocking mythical imagination.

Making an oblique reference to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who linked medical science to mythology recently by stating that the creation of Ganesha is proof of the existence of plastic surgeons thousands of years ago, Mr. Karnad said such claims amounted to mocking and falsifying the “mythical imagination and symbolism” of our ancient writers. Mythologies across the world were rich in such symbolisms, he added.

he said claims on 2,000-year-old texts providing answers to all present-day problems amounted to “freezing” ourselves in a historical past. He recalled that Gandhiji, who revered the Bhagavad Gita , said that only 33 shlokas in it were relevant to him. “We should pick what is relevant to us from our past and discard the rest,” he said.

On the Hindi film PK around which the discussion was organised, Mr. Karnad said the Rajkumar Hirani production showed a remarkable “rationalist courage”.

Nothing wrong in 'PK', says Delhi HC, dismisses plea

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pk

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court Wednesday dismissed a PIL filed against Raj Kumar Hirani directed and Aamir Khan starrer film “PK”, saying “the film was not offensive”.

A division bench of Chief Justice G. Rohini and Justice R.S. Endlaw refused to entertain the plea which sought ban on the film for alleged derogatory remarks against Hindu gods, Hindu beliefs, faith and worship in the movie.

The bench said: “What was wrong in the movie? We don’t find anything offensive in it. We don’t find any substance in the plea.”

The court said it will pass a detailed order on the plea later.

The PIL, filed by Gautam, argued that the film made mockery of Hindu god and Lord Shiva was shown in bad light.

“The Hindu way of worship has also been criticised in a most unwarranted manner,” he alleged.

Additional Solicitor General Sanjay Jain appearing for the Centre opposed the plea, saying similar matter came before the Supreme Court which had rejected it.

Aamir Khan and Anushka Sharma starrer “PK” may have impressed critics and audiences but the portrayal of Hindu sentiments in the film has drawn the ire of right-wing organisations which say the movie disrespects Hindu religion.

(IANS)

'PK' becomes Bollywood's highest grossing film

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pk

Mumbai: As protests against the film continued, the producers of Aamir Khan-starrer ‘PK’ today said the film has broken ‘Dhoom 3’ record to become the biggest earner in Bollywood by collecting Rs 278.52 crores since its release on December 19.

The film has faced criticism by right-wing organisations who said the Rajkumar Hirani-directed film disrespects Hindu religion, an allegation rejected by its makers.

Hirani, 52, said the film’s word-of-mouth performance has been overwhelming.

“I had never in my wildest dreams thought this film will cross these numbers. It reinforces faith that content is king. We can continue making films we believe in. The messages I get are overwhelming. People are watching the film over and over again. It’s humbling,” the director said in a statement.

‘PK’ with its Rs 278.52 crores at the box office is the second film by both Aamir and Hirani after ‘3 Idiots’ (Rs 202 crores) to be a part of the highest earning films’ club.

Aamir-starrer ‘Dhoom 3’ is second biggest earner with Rs 271.82 crores followed by Salman Khan starrer ‘Kick’ (Rs 244 crores) and Shah Rukh Khan’s ‘Chennai Express’ (Rs 228 crores).

The film has done well in overseas markets as well by contributing Rs 124 crores at the box office.

(IANS)

Make Aamir Khan's 'PK' tax free, says Swami Agnivesh

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PK

New Delhi: Arya Samaj leader Swami Agnivesh on Tuesday advocated tax exemption for Aamir Khan-starrer ‘PK’ in view of the movie’s “new message” that would encourage scientific temperament among students across India.

Agnivesh welcomed “the film which takes a swipe at superstitious beliefs and false idol worship practiced by some people in the name of religion, said a statement released by his organisation Bandhua Mukti Morcha.

As the film’s storyline questions exploitation of devotees and followers in the name of religion, Agnivesh urged people to “ignore the hue and cry made by some of the so-called religious leaders like Swami Ramdev and other religious outfits like Vishva Hindu Parishad or Jamaat-e-Islami Hind”.

“It is natural that such religious leaders and institutions are bound to get threatened for their survival as the movie hits out at the blind faith,” he said, in the statement.

He congratulated Central Board of Film Certification chairperson Leela Samson for rejecting a review of the screening certificate to the film despite pressure from religious fundamentalists.

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