New Delhi, Jan 17 (IANS) Information and Broadcasting Minister Arun Jaitley Saturday hit out against Censor Board chairperson Leela Samson who quit citing corruption and the nine board members who followed suit, saying they are all "UPA appointees" and if there's any corruption they "have themselves to blame".
In a Facebook post titled "Rebels Without a Cause", Jaitley has slammed the allegations of "alleged interference by the government and corruption in the (censor) board" cited by Samson and the nine members.
Jaitley said that he and junior minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore have neither communicated with any member of the censor board, and never desired that any bureaucrat do the same.
"I have not met or spoken to any member of the censor board nor authorised anyone to do the same. It is the UPA appointed Central Censor Board which has since continued.
"If there is any corruption, the UPA appointees have themselves to blame. I only wished that the fact of corruption had been communicated even once by the chairperson of the censor board to me. The non-functional chairperson never did so," Jaitley added in his post.
Samson has alleged that the "board has not met for over nine months as the ministry had 'no funds' to permit the meeting of members".
Rebutting her charge, Jaitley said: "The charge that meetings of the censor board are not being held is a self-condemnation. The meetings are to be convened not by the minister or the secretary, but by the chairperson.
"If the meetings are not being convened, it is for those responsible for non-functioning who must blame themselves. I have checked up from officials of the Ministry who informed that the funds for the censor board have been returned to the ministry as unspent by the board."
The controversy came up following the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal's (FCAT) clearance to Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh's film "MSG - The Messenger of God", despite the fact that the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC)and its revising committee had not given it a green signal.
While many have claimed that Samson's resignation was triggered by this clearance, she told IANS Friday: "That is not the reason."
Clarifying the legal regime with regard to the functioning of the censor board, Jaitley said: "If an Appeal Tribunal disagrees with the board, it is a part of the due process of law and not an onslaught on board's autonomy.
"Can a subordinate judicial authority ever cry foul if its decision is upset by an appellate authority? The NDA government maintains arms length distance in all matters relating to film certification.
"The UPA Government had politicised the Censor Board. In 2004 they dismissed the existing Censor Board headed by eminent film actor Anupam Kher merely on the ground that Anupam Kher was appointed by the earlier government. We did not wish to do that. It is regrettable that the UPA appointees have decided to politicise routine issues."
SCO-2022: China not happy with Russia's attack on Ukraine! Know what came out of the Putin-Xi meeting
Because of the views expressed by the leaders regarding the war between Russia and Ukraine in the ongoing Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Uzbekistan, this conference is considered very special.
Saif Ali Khan: Lawyers clashed in the court to defend Saif's attacker; Magistrate mediated as referee
During the hearing of the accused of the attack on Saif Ali Khan in Bandra court, some strange scenes were seen in the courtroom. Two lawyers clashed with each other to plead for the accused. There
States should use additional funds for infrastructure: PM
New Delhi, March 4 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday suggested that additional funds and resources at the disposal of states should be directed primarily towards nation building, an
BSEB 12th Result 2023: Check the result of the Bihar Board Intermediate Exam like this, this is the easy process
Bihar Board 12th Result Out Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) is going to release the result of class 12th of Bihar Board today at 2 pm. More than 13 lakh registered students were eagerly waiting
Gujarat: Kejriwal announces, AAP will contest all assembly seats in 2022
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal arrived in Gujarat on a one-day visit today. Kejriwal went straight from the airport to the Circuit House. He met leaders and workers of the Aam Aadmi Party here.
Uber Driver allowed to Examine himself as Defence Witness
New Delhi, Feb 4 (IANS) A court here Wednesday allowed a plea of the Uber cab driver, who is accused of raping a woman executive in his taxi, to examine himself as a defence witness in the
Mayawati woke up from defeat: 'Group 4' strategy made for 2024, special focus on these communities
After the worst ever performance of BSP in the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, Mayawati has become active and the organization is being tightened from top to bottom. In this episode, Mayawati had
Get Virat to open: Former England cricketer Monty Panesar said - give Pant a chance in the playing XI, India will become the champion of the T20 World Cup
In 2012, a Test series was being played between England and India. In the second match played in Mumbai, Team India won the toss and decided to bat first. India got early setbacks in the first innings
US Freedom Day Parade accused wanted to die: used to get jealous of the attention given to others, used to say - I will kill everyone, this is my destiny
The firing took place at the Freedom Day Parade in Chicago on America's Independence Day. 7 people died and 31 were injured in this attack. The suspect, 22-year-old Robert E Cremo III, was arrested in
Corona's new guideline released: Sunday curfew ends, the market will be decorated till 10 pm, schools from 10th to 12th will open from one
Amidst the threat of corona infection, the state government has issued a new guideline for corona. In this, some relaxation has been given to the residents of the state. It has been decided to end the
