Aamir Khan’s film Fanaa to be released on 26 May will not be screened in the state of Gujarat, due to his earlier support for the rehabilitation of the Narmada dam affected people. Aamir had earlier lent his support to social activist Medha Patkar along with the hundreds of villagers who were being displaced from their homes due to an increase in the height of the dam in Gujarat. He supported their pleas of being rehabilitated elsewhere. Aamir had also spoken to the media about the mishandling of the dargah (place of worship) demolition by the state government of Gujarat. Since then the actor has been at the receiving end of the ire of a number of political parties. The state government of Gujarat has since then decided to ban all of Aamir Khan’s forthcoming films including Fanaa until he tenders an apology to the people of Gujarat. However Aamir has refused to tender an apology.
Aamir Khan addressed a press conference in Mumbai refusing to apologise and stood by whatever he had earlier stated. At the press conference Aamir stated that he would be letting down all the adivasis and farmers whom he had supported if he tendered an apology. Aamir said “I want to tell the people of Gujarat that I have lots of love for them…in fact the people should join me in taking up the cause of thousands of people who are losing their homes and land due to the dam.” In fact even the Prime Minister of India Dr. Manmohan Singh was of the view that any actor or artiste was entitled to their personal opinions.
Unfortunately, political parties now seem to be passing on the buck to one and other. The BJP political party has claimed that the issue was first taken up by the Congress. One party member said “It is the voluntary decision of the exhibitors not to show the film. The party has nothing to do with the issue.” And finally from theater owners the buck was passed on to the people of Gujarat claiming that the people were extremely unhappy with the earlier statements made by Aamir Khan. Before the unanimous ban of the film in Gujarat state, minister of the state Narendra Modi had offered police protection to those theaters who wished to screen the film Fanaa. However this was merely considered as a farce for covering up the actual threats to theater owners who screened the film.
Veteran actor Shatrughan Sinha, who is the cultural minister of the BJP party, defended his party’s actions and stated that Aamir Khan should not make statements about issues that he fully does not comprehend and also that he had hurt the sentiments of people in Gujarat. However he was not completely for a ban on the film Fanaa, as he felt that the ultimate losses would have to be borne by the producers and many others who were also a part of the film.
Aamir Khan however remains firm on his decision and will refrain from tendering an apology.
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