Withdraw retrograde amendments to Cinematography Act: CPI-M
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, July 05 2021:
Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), Manipur State Committee has demanded the central government to withdraw the proposed amendments to the Cinematography Act by the Modi government while terming it as an all-out assault on the creative talents of filmmakers and the constitutional right of freedom of expression.
A statement issued by the party's state secretary Kshetrimayum Shanta said that Central government wants to add a provision to give it the right to "revisionary powers" on account of violation of Section 5B (1) (principles for guidance in certifying films) of the Act.
This will give the government the power to withdraw films already certified.
"Recently, we have seen the right-wing forces led by the Hindutva brigade and casteist groups indulging in mob censorship of films not to their liking.
Now the government itself wants the powers to stop films critical of its ideology.
As it is the autonomous powers of the Film Censor Board, the board's power has been subverted in various ways by IB Ministry.
In April, the appellant body to which film makers could appeal against cuts by the Censor Board to their films was arbitrarily dissolved by the ministry," the statement said.
The Manipur State Secretariat of CPI (M) in the interest of the Manipuri film fraternity, industry and workers strongly opposes these atrocious amendments designed to throttle cinematic talent and freedom.
The party demands the restoration of the Appellate Tribunal as demanded by noted film makers in the country.
It supports the struggle of those in the film industry who have courageously raised their voice against this assault on democracy and freedom of expression, it added.