April 26, 2024 02:05 (IST)
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UP CM makes PK tax free in his state
Lucknow/Mumbai, Dec 31 (IBNS): Amid several protests against Aamir Khan starrer PK, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday decided to exempt the movie from entertainment tax in his state.
Yadav said he got time to watch the film last night at 10 and decided to make it tax free.
He said, "The film should be watched by everyone."
Yadav said now that it is tax free, "those protesting should go and watch the film."
Meanwhile, PK director RajKumar Hirani has appealed to all groups, protesting against it accusing the makers of denigrating Hinduism, to watch the film in totality.
In a statement, Hirani said, "I appeal to the groups protesting against our film to see the film in totality and not just isolated scenes. Our intention is not to hurt anyone, or to discriminate against any religion."
"Our film is inspired by the ideas of Saint Kabir and Mahatma Gandhi. It is a film, which brings to fore the thought that all humans who inhabit this planet are the same. There are no differences. In fact, I have the highest respect for the concept of "Advait"- the oneness of all humans - that is central to Indian culture, thought, and religion. It saddens me to think that a film that upholds this great Hindu principal is accused of being disrespectful of Hinduism," said he.
Earlier, junior Information and Broadcasting Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore as well as Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis ruled out acting against the movie.
Fadnavis said the Censor Board has cleared the film- directed by Rajkumar Hirani- and so there is no question of stopping its screening.
He assured to maintain law and order and ensure the film's incident-free screening even as groups like VHP and Bajrang Dal resorted to protest and vandalism against the film.
Rathore on the other hand has been quoted in media saying it is beyond his ministry to stop the film's screening and freedom of speech is a constitutional right.
Aamir Khan starrer "PK" is being booed by the radical Hindu groups like Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal for its depiction of Hindu gods and goddesses as protesters resorted to vandalism in Ahmedabad, forcing suspension of screening of the film in some theatres in Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Bhopal. Protests also reached Delhi.
Yoga guru Baba Ramdev also criticised the film saying that people should boycott it.
Theatre owners said they stopped screening fearing vandalism and violence.
Activists of the group threatened to ransack the theatres in Mumbai.
Media reports said Bajrang Dal men ransacked two multiplexes in Ahmedabad while in Bhopal also they protested.
Earlier reports said like all other Rajkumar Hirani films, his recent release, PK seems to be enjoying a very high repeat index.
The Aamir Khan starrer is a billed as a light hearted entertainer with a social message which can be watched with the entire family.
The film released on Dec 19. The film has broken the record and collected the highest amount in the first week (182.58 cr) of its release which only reiterates the fact that a major chunk of the audience is going to the theaters to watch the film more than once.
Interestingly, several top BJP leaders like L K Advani watched the film and praised it highly.
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