India: Maneka Gandhi demands withdrawal of film 'Taj Mahal' from Cinema Halls

Mrs. Maneka Gandhi has written to Mr. Priya Ranjan Das Munshi, Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India that the big-banner film, 'Taj Mahal', produced and directed by Akbar Khan, which is being shown in cinema halls, both in India and abroad should be withdrawn forth-with and the Censor Certificate issued by the Censor Board be cancelled.

According to the recent order of the Supreme Court, if use is made of animals in any film, clearance should first be obtained from the Animal Welfare Board before approaching Censor Board for Censor certificate.

In case of this film, this procedure has not been followed and Animal Welfare Board's clearance has not been obtained by the producer even though horses and elephants have been used in the film, in an unlawful manner.

The Ministry is now in a dilemma as to how the film can be withdrawn at this stage when it is being displayed in a big way, both in this country and abroad and crores of rupees have been spent on the film.

Courtesy : Sudhir Jain, E-Mail : mrsudhirjain@hotmail.com

Source: Ahimasa Times Dec 2005

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