PK controversy: Is Maharashtra Police the new 'censor board' of India?

New Delhi: Claiming its role in the ongoing protests to ban Aamir Khan's PK all over the country, Maharashtra government has asked Police to probe into the matter. The BJP-led Maharashtra government on Tuesday asked Police to thoroughly analyse the ‘content' of the film and discover if the film carries anything religiously objectionable or hurtful.

The government has further assured of taking appropriate step if problem of some major hampering with law and order arises.

According to reports, BJP leader and Minister of State for Home, Ram Shinde has asked senior Police officer Deven Bharti, IG (Law and Order) to intervene and look into the content of the film.

Bharti had however said that he had only been informed orally so far and that he is waiting for an official letter for the authority to begin the inquiry.

The Rajkumar Hirani directorial, PK has faced terrible demonstrations all over the country for allegedly ruining the faith and hurting the sentiments of several Hindutva groups by mocking on Hindu Gods and Godmen. Fierce Hindu activist bodies, Bajrang Dal and VHP had even attacked various theatres showing the film in places like Agra, Bhopal, Delhi, Gujrat and Mumbai.

When asked by a leading website, about the authority of Censor Board getting undermined after the government's decision, the minister said, "The Censor board is an independent entity which is free to discharge its duties without any intervention from our end. It is fine if the Censor Board has given a go-ahead to this film. But when we find a threat to law and order in the state, we will intervene."

Off lately, CBFC chairperson, Leela Samson mentioned that the board will not remove any scenes from the film as it has already been released.

Moreover, quashing the allegations of disrespecting Hinduism because he himself is a Muslim, Aamir Khan clarified that he had made his Hindu friends watch the film and they had not found anything objectionable in it. "We respect all religions. All my Hindu friends have seen the film and they have not felt the same,” said Aamir.

Though the entire film fraternity is in uproar with such a demeaning attitude towards the liberties of creative people like a film maker and an actor, the questions on the authority of CBFC have also been raised openly.

Apart from an open Twitter battle, questions like why protests now after 10 days of PK's release, constitute the air of disgust.