Shackling creativity Mother of all polls
With reference to “The real tragedy of Padmavati” (November 21), any publicity, good or bad, works for the film as controversy around it helps to sell more tickets at the box office. Controversy around a Hindi film is not a new thing, if we have to name few recent ones such as Udta Punjab and Lipstick Under My Burkha, which created a lot of noise before their release and ultimately helped garner more crowds to the cinema halls. But Padmavati has been dogged by controversy since the beginning as its sets were vandalised and the director became the target of a section of the society. Now the Supreme Court has refused to deliver any judgment over the release as even movie has not been certified by the Central Board of Film Certification. People have freedom of speech and the right to express their anger, if their emotions are hurt. But taking law into their own hands and putting out a reward to behead the director is highly condemned. Deferring the release of the movie is a pragmatic solution, but then providing security and smooth running of the film is the first duty of the local administration and state government. Last but not the least, until and unless we watch the movie how can we conclude that a historical figure has been shown in a negative light? Creative freedom should not be curbed at any cost.
Bal Govind Noida worked for the revival of India’s oldest party. He should prove that he can challenge Narendra Modi in 2019 by working hard and not merely criticising Modi on each and every issue. It is an open secret that Manmohan Singh governed the nation for 10 years under the instructions of the Gandhi family. The last five years of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) rule saw some of the biggest scams, corruption, slow economic growth and inflation. When the country was hungry for a stable and clean government and strong leadership, Gandhi miserably failed to present himself as such an option. During the 10year UPA tenure, which is a long period of governance for any political party, he kept aloof. The Congress cannot expect Gandhi to change overnight, take over the mantle of the party and deliver. The party should remember that Modi is considered one of the tallest leaders not only in India but worldwide, and it is a herculean task to challenge him in the near future.
Veena Shenoy Thane The Gujarat election has come to be viewed as the mother of all elections and for good reasons. It is a “prestige battle” for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah and they cannot afford to lose their home turf. Nothing consolidates power like an election victory. Few think that the BJP will accomplish the Gujarat mission of 150 seats set for the party by Shah. The Congress is putting up a stiff fight. The importance attached to the election by the BJP is writ large on the decision to schedule the winter session of Parliament postelection which helps the party to escape tough questions on demonetisation and the goods and services tax (GST), and allows its top guns to campaign in the state.
The question in everyone’s mind is whether the Modi magic will work this time in his home state with an undercurrent of resentment over demonetisation and GST. In a clear indication of his waning popularity he nearly came a cropper in the last Baroda road show. Modi’s accusation that the Gandhis harbour a grudge against Gujarat seems to cut no ice with the voters. He cannot now complain as his party has not carried through on its poll promises made in 2012.
The Opposition for once dubbed the sleazy videos featuring Hardik Patel as an insult to the women of Gujarat and forced the BJP to backtrack. It is evident from UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s observation that Rahul Gandhi does not know how to sit for a puja that his temple visits have unnerved the BJP. With CongressHardik Patel pact sealed, the feasibility of quota for Patidars is being questioned by the BJP and BJP-friendly media. The three musketeers — Jignesh Mevani, Alpesh Thakor and Patel — can turn the tables on Shah and snatch a dramatic victory for the Congress giving a good start to Rahul Gandhi as party president.
G David Milton Maruthancode