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Opposition calls for ban on play glorifying Godse

The entire Opposition today flayed the Vajpayee government for its failure to ban the controversial Marathi play, Me Nathuram Godse Boltoy, eulogising Mahatma Gandhi's assassination, and demanded immediate action to ensure that sentiments of the people were not hurt.

Amid shouts of 'shame', Opposition members charged the government with being soft on anti-national activities and said Godse had drawn inspiration from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and that this force was encouraging staging such plays.

Refuting the Opposition's charge, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Madan Lal Khurana said his party held Gandhi in high esteem. He said the prime minister would make a comprehensive statement in the House either today or tomorrow after collecting information from the Maharashtra government.

Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Congress member Ajit Jogi said the play denigrated all that Gandhiji stood for, non-violence, his crusade against untouchability and the freedom struggle. Janata Dal member S Jaipal Reddy said the Maharashtra government's censor board had given clearance for the play. He contended that Godse was an RSS activist and that the same forces were now encouraging the staging of the play in Maharashtra.

Somnath Chaterjee (CPI-M) said the government should not permit the staging of a play that portrayed Mahatma Gandhi's assassin as a martyr. He said great damage could be done if the controversial play is staged.

Madhukar Sarpotdar (Shiv Sena) and Lal Muney Choubey (BJP), however, contended that the Opposition should not rush to conclusions based on press reports. They also deprecated the Opposition's attempts to politicise the issue.

Former prime minister Chandra Shekhar, who demanded a ban on the play, said if press reports were wrong the Maharashtra government should have clarified the matter.

"The issue has been raised in the newspapers for quite some time but the Maharashtra government has not acted on the matter. The staging of the play should be stopped to save the pride of the country," he said, adding that such activities permitted by this government are sending "alarming signals."

Khurana, who took strong exception to certain remarks by Chaterjee on the government's functioning, said, "We have not come to power at the mercy of anyone. Such criticism meant that the opposition was insulting the verdict of the people."

Maintaining that the government and his party held Gandhiji as an ideal, Khurana said, "We do not need a certificate from anyone on patriotism." He also chided the CPI-M member for coming to the Mahatma's defence after criticising him during the 1942 movement. He said the play has been staged in Gujarat for quite some time. He, however, assured the House that either the prime minister or the home minister would make a statement either today or tomorrow after collecting information from the Maharashtra government.

UNI

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