Members of parliament are among the first to allege “judicial overreach” when the courts step in to fill the breach created by an incompetent or unresponsive executive. Yet have they not committed a similar misdemeanour when seeking to undermine the Central Board of Film Certification in bringing their own wisdom to bear on the controversy “engineered” over Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Padmavati? That two committees ~ one comprising members of both Houses, the other a panel of Lok Sabha members alone ~ should “summon” the producer of the film and the CBFC chief tends to confirm an impression that the MPs were keen to share some of the “fame” the movie has attracted.
While parliamentary committees do not function along party lines (at least not openly), it is an open secret that their reports reflect the ideological inclination of their Chairpersons, and hence it is worth noting that both the Standing Committee on Information Technology and the Lok Sabha’s committee on petitions are headed by members of the ruling party. This gives rise to concern because it is leaders of the BJP who are in the forefront of threatening violence, and chief ministers from that party ~ and one from the Congress ~ are queuing up to declare that the film will not be screened in their states. Also worth noting is that it was two MPs from that party who raised the matter with the Lok Sabha panel. Deepika Padukone and Sanjay Leela Bhansali are definitely “up against it”. Little specific emerged at the two meetings this week, further sessions may be called, except the CBFC chief’s assurance that an expert panel would be invited to review the film.
Is that not normal practice? And pray, in these “divided” times from where will independent panellists be found? It is another matter that the nation has incurred much global ridicule over a movie being allowed to ignite such inflamed passions, yet the provisions of the penal code were not invoked against those putting a price on heads, or threatening to have noses chopped off. Leaders across the spectrum would do well to draw inspiration from the words of the Vice-President, reaffirming the freedom of expression.
Yet it must be recorded that one BJP veteran had the moral courage to swim against the political tide and reiterate the apex court’s exhortation to give the CBFC the freedom to play its mandated role. Mr LK Advani confirmed he still retained the basics of his journalism days, which included “reviewing” movies. He objected when the head of the IT panel sought to cross-examine the producer. Well might the patriarch have been given the kick upstairs, but the merit of having the old guard around is that they sometimes remind us of old-world values.