Free expression

This has certainly spooked the censors a bit. A scene from Mukesh Bhatt's Raaz — The Mystery Continues has been censored, and has yet managed to get an A certificate. Hindustan Times gives us the details: [ Link] In the ‘offending scene’, Kangana Ranaut is having a bath in her tub, the ghost spooks her, she jumps out, covered in soap suds. “What is wrong with the scene? You don’t have a bath with your clothes on!” exclaims Bhatt. “Kangana is not even nude, she is wearing a bodysuit. But the...

The moral police in Mysore city too has decided to prevent organisers of New Year's events from holding celebrations if they find them against the culture and tradition of the land. Whatever that means. The manglorean.com website says: [ Link] Bharatiya Janata Party city unit president B.P. Manjunath on Friday said five groups, each comprising 15 to 20 people, would be constituted and these people would visit hotels, resorts, clubs and community halls here where the New Year eve celebrations...

The saffron brigade in Gujarat has issued its warnings over New Year's celebrations well in advance. Five major resorts and clubs and over half a dozen restaurants and hotels in Rajkot had begun bookings for the New Year bash, before the Shiv Sena announced that it would 'chalk out an action plan' to enforce a boycott. The VHP, on the other hand, has only appealed to the people to cancel all celebrations, says the Indian Express. [ Link] “We must boycott New Year celebrations in the city since...

It becomes slightly trying for a blog that stands for freedom of expression to defend religion in any way or on any count. Given the backdrop that most attacks on freedom of expression both in India (primarily from the Hindu right) and cross the world (primarily from the Islamic right) come from those steeped in religion. And, of course, it is ironical that an unrepentant atheist has to write all about it. The other day there was a report in the Hindustan Times about the Telecom Regulatory...

Freedom of expression is slightly more than scribbling poems and tucking them away in your closet, or giving a small, inane speech at a party you might be hosting in your kitchen garden. It is also about putting across a point of view. And it is also about accepting someone else's point of view, however, obnoxious or virulent it might be. The attacks on Biharis, among others, in Mumbai by chauvinist Marathis, and the subsequent display of primeval sentiments by political leaders of Bihari...

The health minister, S Ramadoss, is at it again. This time he wants to ban liquor advertisements. He has expressed “disappointment” over alcohol advertisements at airports across the country and has written to Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel for their removal, according to CNN-IBN. [ Link] Ramadoss has written to the civil aviation ministry for removal of advertisements of alcoholic drinks on display at airports in Delhi and elsewhere across the country in August but no action was taken....

A Virgin Mobile advertisement considered insulting to nurses has been withdrawn after the Information and Broadcasting Ministry threatened to take action against two television channels for showing it. The Hindustan Times reported on what prompted the move: [ Link] The National Commission for Women, which considered the ad obscene, said it treated the nurse like an object. “There were also sexual overtones which cannot be allowed on public television,” an NCW official said. The Commission had...

Harbhajan Singh has apologised over the Colors channel dance reality show, and vowed “never to do anything that could hurt religious sentiments of any community”. "I apologise if my actions have hurt anybody. It was not my intention to hurt sentiments of anyone which includes members of my own community," the off-spinner told reporters in Chandigarh. "It will be my sincere endeavour not to repeat such things in future," said Singh, currently playing in the first Test match against Australia at...

The Maharashtra Youth Congress knows how to tackle Raj Thackeray — it is going on an anti-indecency overdrive. After filing a complaint against Harbhajan Singh for hurting sentiments of its members for playing Ravana in a dance reality show, the youth brigade of the Congress has filed an FIR against three participants of the preposterous reality show Big Boss. The show “bred vulgarity, indecency and indecent representation of women," they told the Andheri police, according to the Indian Express...

More people are seething over Harbhajan Singh's Ravana dance on Colors channel. All for different reasons. The Sikh clergy in Amritsar are fuming since both Harbhajan and Mona are Sikhs, says IANS: [ Link] Gurbachan Singh, the acting head of the Akal Takht, has taken strong exception to the depiction of Hindu gods by the two celebrities, who incidentally, are both Sikhs. “Though I have not received a complaint in this regard, I think it is unreasonable to mock at religious deities like this...