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Bollywood reacts furiously over smoking ban in movies

     Mumbai: Film producers in Mumbai have strongly protested the Centre's recent decision to ban smoking scenes in movies and on television. In tough new regulations, the Union Health Ministry also said that distributors and directors would have to show health warnings on screens in old movies and TV shows, whether Indian or foreign, that showed actors smoking. Indian Motion Picture Producers' Association (IMPPA) members met here on Tuesday and said that the government should have first discussed the issue with representatives of the film industry before imposing any such ban. "This is the film line, an entertainment business. We are not doing anything purposely. We are just playing a character, painting a character. Suppose tomorrow, I want to again make the movie "Devdas", he has to have the drinks. Tomorrow the minister will say you don't show him drinking, then how is it possible. At least, they should have a talk with the film industry," said Sushma Shiromani, the president of IMPPA. K.D. Shorey, a member of the association, said that the industry works within the parameters of law and does not believe in glorifying acts of smoking or drinking. "Nothing can be more churlish than this that millions of people are smoking or dying they think just a hoarding is sufficient. They are not doing anything for that. But as far as films are concerned we like any other profession, we are supposed to act within the parameters of the law and constitution, which we are doing. And this very insignificant thing to show a character smoking, not glorifying just smoking, to say that it is bad for people. We cannot go by the whims of the minister or the ministry," he said. The new rules also mean names or logos of tobacco products would have to be cut or masked. Bollywood, which turns out three times more movies than Hollywood, often depicts its macho heroes with cigarettes or cheaper-priced handrolled bidis dangling from their lips. The World Health Organisation, which estimates smoking is linked to over 800,000 deaths in India a year, mainly among men aged between 25 to 69, lauded the move. In May 2004, India banned smoking in public places such as railway stations and parks as well as tobacco advertising and sponsorship by tobacco firms of sporting events.

Main accused in May 22 cinema blasts nabbed (Go To Top)

     New Delhi: Police today arrested the main accused in connection with the twin cinema blasts in Delhi on May 22. According to the police, Jaspal is a member of Babbar Khalsa International. He was the mastermind behind the blasts in Liberty and Satyam cinema halls last month in which one person was killed and over 50 others were injured. Jaspal was also responsible for recruiting and training the other two accused, Balvinder Singh and Jagannath, who were earlier arrested by the police. The police have also arrested Jagtar Singh Hawara, chief of Babbar Khalsa and the main accused in assassination of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh. Hawara, who had escaped from Chandigarh's Burail jail in January last year and carried a reward of Rs 5 lakh, was nabbed this morning in a north-west Delhi area. "Hawara is a very big catch, one of the biggest in the recent history of Delhi Police," Delhi Police Commissioner K K Paul told reporters. Hawara was allegedly instrumental in the assassination of Beant Singh outside the Punjab Secretariat in Chandigarh in August 1995 by a suicide bomber. He was arrested in 1996 and was lodged in Burail Jail. Asked whether Hawara was directly linked to the twin blasts, the Commissioner said, "It is too early to say. He was lying dormant for some time but it seems he was masterminding operations and channelising funds." Police also recovered a huge quantity of arms and explosives including 10.35 kg of RDX, four pistols, 207 cartridges, a hand grenade, timers and detonators. They said the arrested militants were plotting to kill some politicians and bureaucrats.

Migration of Nepalis worries New Delhi  (Go To Top)

     New Delhi: India says it could not keep a "closed eye" of the stream of Nepali citizens crossing over to its terrority, with the internal situation getting worse in their country. "We have to take note of the large number of people coming to India," said official sources. Sources said the number of people crossing over to India from that country, following the recent attacks by Maoists, has doubled. Describing the steps taken by Nepal's King Gyanendra as inadequate to restore democracy and bring its economy back on rails, Indian officials said today that "the military impass has not really made any progress in bringing the Maoists to ceasefire." Sources said violence was continuing and the number of people "streaming" to India is increasing. They said India would like the King to play a role for restoration of multi-party democracy. "What is unfolding today bears out what we have said," said officials pointing to the failure of the King to contain violence in the country. New Delhi feels that it was for the political parties, who have formed a 7-party alliance, to take up with the King Gyanendra for restoration of multi-party democracy and not for any third country. "The King has not taken any initiative," said Indian officials keeping a close watch of the situation in that country. Meanwhile, Monday's attack on a tourist bus which killed dozens of people has further darkened hopes for an end to the violence. New Delhi doubts that King Gyanendra, who seized power on Feb 1 with a promise of peace, will be able to keep his word.

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