In a snub for Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) chief Pahlaj Nihalani, union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has said Prime Minister Narendra Modi “does not need sycophants”, reports NDTV.
“Yes, I am a chamcha of Narendra Modi as Anurag Kashyap said. I am proud to be a Modi Chamcha. Should I be a chamcha of the Italian Prime Minister instead?” Nihalani had said to NDTV earlier this week, amid widespread outrage over his censorship of Kashyap’s film “Udta Punjab”.
“Such comments should be avoided. Our Prime Minister describes himself as the “pradhan sevak (one who serves the public) and I don’t think the Pradhan sevak needs any sycophants,” Prasad said.
Pahlaj Nihalani, a known BJP supporter, has been accused by other political parties and many top filmmakers of imposing 89 cuts on “Udta Punjab” at the behest of the BJP, which partners the Akali Dal in Punjab, where elections will be held early next year.
They allege that the Akali Dal wants to scuttle the film, based on drug abuse in Punjab, as it will reflect poorly on its governance over the last 10 years.
