News Headings

N E W S
I N ..D E T A I L

Saturday, July 18, 1998

weather n spotlight
today's calendar

Centre advises ban on play
Tribune News Service and agencies
NEW DELHI, July 17 — The Centre has advised the Maharashtra Government to prevent the staging of a controversial Marathi play in the state which attempts to eulogise Nathuram Godse, the assassin of Mahatma Gandhi.
The play "Me Nathuram Godse Boltoy" which sees Gandhi’s assassination through the eyes of Godse has been a subject of controversy in Parliament during the past two days with the entire Opposition demanding a ban on the play. The issue also figured in both Houses of Parliament today and the Rajya Sabha had to be adjourned 45 minutes ahead of lunch recess amid acrimonious exchanges between ruling and Opposition Benches over the controversial play. The Chairman, Mr Krishna Kant, adjourned the House after a Congress member made an offending remark against the Chair.
Reacting to the sentiments of the Opposition, the Union Home Minister, Mr L.K. Advani, told the Lok Sabha that "keeping in view the reported intent of the play, the central government has advised the state government to prohibit its performance."
The Home Minister conveyed the Centre’s view to the Maharashtra Chief Minister during a meeting here yesterday. Mr Advani told Mr Manohar Joshi the state government should take steps to stop the staging of the play.
Mr Advani informed the House the state government’s contention was the play was cleared for performance by the autonomous Maharashtra Stage Performance Scrutiny Board. The play was certified for universal viewership.
The Home Minister said the Union Home Secretary had got in touch with the Chief Secretary of Maharashtra yesterday and the full facts of the play were ascertained.
He emphasised the government strongly disapproved of anything denigrating the hallowed memory of Mahatma Gandhi and belittling the unique role he played in leading the nation to freedom from colonial rule. Raising the issue during zero hour today, the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Sharad Pawar, quoted an interview given by the director of the play where he had said he wanted to change the image of Godse and wanted him to be compared with martyrs like Shaheed Bhagat Singh and Jhansi ki Rani. The director, Mr Pradeep Dalvi, has been quoted as saying that he expected people to destroy the statues of Gandhi after watching the play.
Mr Pawar apprehended that such statements could lead to a law and order problem and asked the government to clarify its stand on the issue.
His Congress colleague, Mr P.J. Kurien suggested action must be taken against the autonomous body which had cleared the play for performance.

Mr P. Shivshankar of the Congress suggested the Centre could issue a directive under Article 256 of the Constitution that would be binding on the state government. Article 256 mentions the executive power of every state shall be so exercised as to ensure compliance with the laws made by Parliament and any existing laws made by Parliament and any existing laws which apply in that state, and the executive power of the Union shall extend to the giving of such directions to a state as may appear to the Government of India to be necessary for that purpose.
Several members also demanded disbanding of the autonomous body of Maharashtra which cleared the staging of the play. They also demanded a countrywide ban on the play.
The Congress members also raised a storm in the Rajya Sabha over the issue with Mr Pranab Mukherjee saying that posterity would not forgive this generation if vilification of Mahatma Gandhi and glorification of his assassin Nathuram Godse was allowed.
He regretted the play was being staged at a time when the nation was celebrating the 50th anniversary of its Independence. He wanted to know what steps the government proposed to take so that such things did not recur.
Trouble erupted in the House when the Chairman allowed Mr Sanjay Nirupam of the Shiv Sena to make his submission. Mr Nirupam referred to a Bombay High Court judgement in the early seventies on a book written by Gopal Godse, brother of Nathuram. He said the court had refused to ban the book citing freedom of expression.
The entire Congress and the United Front members began protesting against Mr Nirupam’s reference and pleaded that his remarks were irrelevant. They urged the Chair to control Mr Nirupam. The Chairman was however, of the view that it was his duty to protect the rights of every member and Mr Nirupam should be allowed to have his say.
Irked by the taunts from the Opposition, Mr Nirupam retorted by saying that "they take Mahatma Gandhi’s name but they are the biggest fascists...they are not allowing me to speak."
Amid the din that followed, Mr H.R. Bhardwaj of the Congress questioned the attitude of the Chair and made certain offending remarks against Mr Kant. The Chairman lost his temper and said he was adjourning the House "sine die." He, however, immediately corrected himself, saying that the House was being adjourned till 2 p.m.
When the House reassembled, the Deputy Chairperson, Ms Najma Heptulla, adjourned it till 2.30 p.m. and then again till 3 p.m.
As the House met for the fourth time for the day, Mr Bhardwaj expressed regrets over his remarks, saying that he did not intend to hurt the Chair.
After the issue was resolved, a Congress member demanded that certain words used by Mr Nirupam against the Opposition should be expunged to

which Mr Kant agreed.
MUMBAI (UNI): A riot-like situation in front of a theatre staging the controversial Marathi play "Me Nathuram Godse Boltoy" (I, Nathuram Godse speaking) led to the show's cancellation today, the police lathicharged several times to disperse Congress and Shiv Sena activists, who raised slogans against each others.
Congress activists denounced the play while Shiv Sena members wanted it to be staged.
The situation worsened with the arrival of state Cultural Affairs Minister Pramod Navalkar. The police later removed the women Congress workers who staged a dharna blocking the theatre entrance, by packing them off into buses.
The minister had been instructed by Chief Minister Manohar Joshi to watch the play and give his opinion following a request from the Prime Minister.
The police held over 100 Congress demonstrators, including president of Mumbai Youth Congress Charan Singh Sapra, its general secretary Virendra Bakshi and Congress councillor Ravindra Bakshi.
Over 100 Congress workers burnt an effigy of Godse and marched through the streets of Kolhapur city demanding an immediate ban on the play.
Mr Navalkar said there was no question of defying Mr Advani's directive but the state government would first have to examine all the angles involved in the issue.
Mr Bal Thackeray, who was also to attend the performance, told newsmen "We feel that there could have been a stampede in the hall had the performance been allowed. We had reason to suspect this eventuality following reports that over 100 Congress activists had bought tickets for Friday's show".
The decision by the Shivaji Mandir theatre's management, later endorsed by the play’s producers, of cancelling the performance, came as a damper for hundreds of play enthusiasts, many of them elderly citizens, who requested the police and the hall management to allow them in as they had valid tickets for the play.
Regarding the stone-pelting on several city buses and other vehicles in the area by demonstrators, city police Commissioner Ronald Mendonca said: "We are verifying whether there were large-scale incidents of this type". He said the situation was now under control.
The producer of the play, Vinay Apte, refused to comment on the controversy.
Meanwhile, an editorial in the Shiv Sena mouthpiece "Saamna" on Friday criticised the opponents of the play, stating "if the audience spontaneously claps during the play why should the Congress feel offended".
Copies of Friday’s issue of "Saamna" were burnt in front of Shivaji Mandir theatre by Congress activists.
In Kolhapur hundreds of Congress activists burnt the effigy of Nathuram Godse demanding ban on the controversial play.
Earlier, the activists, led by city Congress president R.K. Powar and district unit party secretaries, Sadashiv Jarag and Uday Chavan brought the effigy in a procession to the city public square.

NFL 'spent lavishly' on Barnala's visit
Tribune News Service
BATHINDA, July 17 — National Fertilizer Limited (NFL) which is facing financial crises following the Rs 133 crore urea import scam, has been left poorer by the management of the local plant when it spent lakhs of rupees on the visit of the Union Chemical and Fertilisers Minister, Mr Surjeet Singh Barnala on June 30.
Sources said that the money was spent lavishly by the management of the local plant for giving Mr Barnala a "red carpet welcome".
Mr S.K. Mehta, General Manager, NFL, while talking to TNS said less than Rs 1 lakh was spent on Mr Barnala's visit and the money was spent according to the protocol of the visiting dignitary.
However, sources said two air-conditioners (1.5 tonne capacity each), conference system with 16 delegate units (one set), 12 ceiling fans, paint and brushes, 263 metre of certain cloth, tea sets 36 ceremonial dresses and portable megaphone, three small refrigerators, a pair of expensive beds and other items were purchased by the local management on the eve of Mr Barnala's visit.
A silver plate was given to Mr Barnala in Gulmohar Guest House and expensive gifts were also given to press reporters. Apart from it, a brunch was hosted for about 500 persons.
Mr Mehta, however, said the item mentioned above were purchased in routine and had nothing to do with Mr Barnala's visit. he refused to comment when asked that why press reporters were given gifts.
He said the local management had acted as per the rules and regulations and purchased certain items for the guest house and the plant. He said for the past 20 years the guest house has not been renovated.
He admitted that a red carpet was purchased by the management to extend a 'red carpet welcome' to Mr Barnala. He said flag poles were installed along side the approach road of the guest house and welcome arch gates were also erected.
Official sources said that on June 26 and June 27, a team comprising an Assistant Vigilance Officer, a Sub Inspector, CISF and a Material Officer (Stores) conducted search of the office of Mr R.C. Vashista, Assistant Manager (Materials) stores following an order in this regard from the competent authority.
The seizure memo says the all controversial suspicious files and documents have been taken into custody to review the same and presently kept in the file cabinet under lock and key and sealed by the aforesaid persons. One envelope containing loose papers sealed and submitted to the Manager (Materials)/General Manager (GM).
Mr Mehta, however, said he was not aware of the raid but later changed his version and said the file cabinet was yet to be opened and documents were yet to be checked.

Discordant note by Jaya
CHENNAI, July 17 (UNI) — The All-India Anna DMK (AIADMK), a major constituent of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led coalition government at the Centre, today struck a discordant note demanding reservation for backward classes and minorities within the 33 per cent reservation for women in the women’s quota Bill.
While the BJP had categorically stated that it was against reservation for minorities and favoured introduction of the Bill in the present form, the AIADMK supremo demanded that the Bill be introduced and adopted after amending it to provide for section-wise quota within the 33 per cent reservation.
Stating that Speaker, Mr G.M.C. Balayogi’s decision to indefinitely defer the introduction of the Bill instead of making efforts to get it introduced, caused concern, she urged Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee to immediately convene an all-party meeting in order to facilitate the introduction and adoption of the Bill after making the amendment suggested by her in the current Budget session.
Incidentally, the stand taken by the AIADMK was similar to the taken by Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Laloo Prasad Yadav and Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav.
DMK President and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi had suggested that the Bill be introduced in the present form and the amendments suggested by the Opposition parties could be considered at a later stage.