Last Updated: Saturday, January 17, 2015 – 10:44
Eight more Censor Board members quit in support of Leela Samson

Zee Media Bureau

New Delhi: In an unexpected turn of events, after Censor Board chief Leela Samson resigned from her post on Friday, it is now being reported that as many asnine  other members have followed suit. After Samson cited interference and corruption as the sole reason for her ouster from the coveted post, eight other CBFC members too opted for resigning in support of the former chief.

Nine members of the censor board have reportedly quit in support of chief Leela Samson, who resigned on Friday alleging government’s interference.

In their resignation letter written to the information and broadcasting ministry, the members said they wanted to step down because the government was not allowing them any autonomy.

Reportedly, the whole controversy erupted after self-styled godman Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh’s film ‘MSG—Messenger Of God’ was given a green signal by the Film Certification Apellate Tribunal (FCAT) on Friday for release. The Censor Board had earlier decided to refer the decision related to clearance to the film in question to the FCAT.

Samson said that it is a mockery of Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) and that she has informed the I&B Secretary about the matter. She reportedly alleged interference and coercion in the Censor Board work. However, she later denied ‘MSG’ being the factor behind her decision to resign.

Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore said Samson’s resignation was her personal decision and there was no coercion by the government.

“Whatever the decision, it has to be acceptable to all,” he said, in an obvious reference to the FCAT’s green signal for ‘MSG’. “There was no coercion by the government. If she feels so, let her convey it to the government.”

‘MSG’ was reportedly first rejected by the examining committee of the Censor Board and referred to the revising committee.

(With Agency Inputs)

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