Protests against Manoj Bajpayee’s ‘Ghuskhor Pandit’ are intensifying, transforming a film release into a cultural flashpoint. Congress has waded into the fray, with its leaders decrying the title as an egregious insult to Brahmins and followers of Sanatan Dharma. In a pointed IANS conversation, Ajay Rai, UP Congress president, called out the trend of demonizing religious figures under the guise of cinema.
Rai painted a grim picture: ‘Religious symbols are under siege in today’s regime, and this title exemplifies it.’ He framed the issue as a societal litmus test, where community-bashing via pop culture risks deeper rifts.
Congress’s Rakesh Sinha escalated demands, urging the censor board to rename it pronto. ‘Purpose of movies is bonding, not bruising feelings or stereotyping communities,’ he hammered home, prioritizing social stability.
Spokesperson Surendra Rajput called for equilibrium. ‘Expression’s freedom ends where communal hurt begins,’ he posited. Rajput’s recipe: a thorough, unbiased review to safeguard art without igniting hate.
Parliamentarian Pramod Tiwari zeroed in on the fallacy of caste linkage. ‘Flaws like avarice are individual; pinning them on castes is destructive,’ he lambasted. This, he said, is a societal divider demanding outright rejection.
MP Sukhdev Bhagat rounded off with a plea for sensitivity. ‘Speak freely, but tread lightly on emotions,’ he advised. Folklore and proverbs enrich culture, but not when twisted to belittle groups. As voices amplify, Bollywood grapples with the perils of edgy titling in a polarized landscape.