19 held for Aarakshan protests


Police on Saturday arrested six members of Akhil Bhartiya Mahatma Phule Samata Parishad, a social outfit led by Chhagan Bhujbal, and detained 13 actvists of Republican Party of India (RPI) in Mumbai for protesting against Prakash Jha's Aarakshan that has stirred up a controversy for its alleged anti-reservation stand. aarakshan01
Police said activists of the Parishad gathered at Mahim Church in the afteroon and blackened and tore down posters of the film.
“Locals informed us about the group. We arrested six activists for unlawful assembly," said Inspector S Desai of Mahim police station. “They were later let out on bail. They did not know what the story of the movie was. They were just trouble makers.”
Police also detained 13 activists of the RPI who were trying to barge into Jha's office in Andheri. Jha is currently in Delhi.
Jha told The Sunday Express that nobody in his office suffered injuries in the incident. “The RPI activists have not watched the film and are attacking me on the basis of presumptions and misconceptions about the treatment of the caste-issue in the film. I’m a law abiding, responsible citizen and filmmaker. I feel it is only fair if my film is judged after its release. The Censor Board has cleared the film without a single cut and with a U/A certificate. However, it is a democratic country, so everyone has a right to protest,” he said.

 
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