M A I N   N E W S

We won’t allow it anywhere: Sena
Laloo rides ‘Water’ wave

PATNA, Feb 10 (PTI) — RJD President Laloo Prasad Yadav today voluntarily offered film producer Deepa Mehta to shoot her controversial movie “Water’’ in Bihar even as Union Minister for Industries and Shiv Sena leader, Manohar Joshi, threatened that the Shiv Sainiks would not allow its filming anywhere in the country, including Madhya Pradesh.

“We extend full cooperation. Necessary security will be provided wherever and whenever Deepa Mehta decides to shoot “Water” in Bihar,’’ Mr Yadav told a joint press conference with CPI-M General Secretary, Harkishen Singh Surjeet here.

The RJD chief and Mr Surjeet flayed the frontal organisations of the BJP, including the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the RSS for disrupting the shooting of the movie in Varanasi.

Mr Surjeet said it was a matter of surprise that even after clearance of the final script of the film by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry “those who are part of the NDA ministry are disrupting the shooting.’’

Meanwhile, former Maharashtra Chief Minister and Shiv Sena leader, Manohar Joshi, addressing a separate press conference expressed the firm resolve of the Sena not to allow shooting of “Water” anywhere in the country.

“We have taken a pledge to disrupt shooting of the film which is against the cultural and religious sentiments and we will oppose its filming in Madhya Pradesh,’’ Mr Joshi said while replying to a question on Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, Digvijay Singh’s reported offer to shoot the movie in Indore.

He said Sena supremo Bal Thackeray would issue necessary directive to the sainiks to block its filming in Madhya Pradesh.

Stating that though the Shiv Sena was a constituent of the NDA, the decision of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry clearing the script was “not a binding on us.’’

“We would have opposed it had the union cabinet taken up such matter for a decision,’’ he added.

BHOPAL (PTI, UNI): Noted film-maker Deepa Mehta flew in here today to explore the possibility of shooting her controversial film “Water” in Madhya Pradesh, but said she would take a final decision only after talking to producers and other unit members.

Deepa, who flew from Mumbai, rushed straight from the Bairagarh airport to the Madhya Pradesh Assembly Secretariat for a meeting with Chief Minister Digvijay Singh.

After holding discussions with the Chief Minister for about an hour, she addressed a joint informal press conference with him and said she had been given permission by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry for shooting the film “Water” anywhere in India. She did not require a fresh permission for shooting in Madhya Pradesh after the filming of “Water” ran into trouble in Varanasi because of protest by some sangh parivar outfits.

Asked when she would commence shooting “Water” in Madhya Pradesh, the film-maker said “a decision in this regard would take some time as she had to talk to the film’s producers and other unit members.”

Deepa said a final decision would be taken only after taking into consideration a number of things, including whether or not it was feasible to shoot it at the venue suggested to her.

Deepa said change in the locale of the shooting of her film would not dilute its original script.