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Election Commission bans film on Gujarat riots in Goa

Sandesh Prabhudesai in Panaji

The Election Commission in Goa has banned a documentary on Gujarat carnage, claiming that it has potential to create communal tension in the state.

The police have been instructed to seize all the videocassettes.

The issue began with the police seizing one such cassette from a Congressman in Velim constituency in South Goa, while it was being viewed in public.

There are conflicting versions whether it is Hey Ram -- a film by Gopal Menon released in Delhi a month ago.

According to R P Pal, the joint electoral officer, the film is an edited version of Hey Ram, with some additional clippings inserted into it.

Pal however admits that none of the officials, including the state chief secretary, have seen the original Hey Ram.

Meanwhile, the cassette has also been sent to the chief election commissioner for further comments and instructions on the matter, including taking action against those possessing the cassette.

Though there was no official complaint from the ruling BJP in this regard, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had publicly cautioned the authorities regarding the film, stating that it would create communal tension.

Based on the instructions from the Election Commission, the police have decided to seize any such cassette under section 153 A of IPC, which deals with promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence and language.

However, advocate Amrut Kansar, belonging to the Forum for Communal Harmony, said the film is a 'very human document'.

"It consciously places the carnage in Gujarat in the perspective of Mahatma Gandhi's philosophy of communal harmony and calls for Hindu-Muslim unity," he said.

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