The trailer of Anupam Kher starrer movie ‘The Accidental Prime Minister’ was released on Thursday. The trailer seems to be facing the fire of intolerance and even threats from the Congress party. The Maharashtra Youth Wing of the Congress party has raised strong objections against the trailer of ‘The Accidental Prime Minister’. It has sent a letter to the producers of the film for ‘incorrect presentation of facts’, demanding a special screening of the film before release.
In the letter, they said, “If there is any unfactual scenes or story is being published in the film to malign the image of the Congress party and it’s leaders then we demand that same should be edited and deleted from the movie, which can be concluded by us only after viewing the movie.” The youth wing further added in the letter that they would not let the movie be screened anywhere in the country if their demands are not met. They have also threatened to approach the court.
Maharashtra Youth Congress writes to makers of #TheAccidentalPrimeMinister & asks to show them the movie before release & if some scenes are found unfactual, they should be deleted else, Youth Congress will not let the movie be screened anywhere in the country. pic.twitter.com/CUGJ98hmv8
— ANI (@ANI) December 27, 2018
The trailer of ‘The Accidental Prime Minister’ is a massive hit amongst the audience, but a living nightmare for the left liberals. In order to calm them, the makers put a disclaimer before the trailer, that the movie is based more on the book rather than the real-life events. The movie is based on the on the 2014 book- The Accidental Prime Minister- authored by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s media adviser Sanjaya Baru. It covers former PM Manmohan Singh’s tenure from 2004 to 2014 as the prime minister.
The Economic Times has quoted Satyajeet Tambe Patil, who leads the Maharashtra Youth Congress said, “The way they have presented the characters (from the Congress) itself is unacceptable. Fake and unproven allegations have been used in the movie to discredit the party.”
This is not the first time that the Grand Old Party has displayed intolerance against creative freedom. Earlier, in July, a member of the Congress party had registered a complaint against the Sacred Games web Series. The complaint was registered in reference to an unparliamentary comment in the show referring to late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi (translated as ‘pussy’ in subtitles) in a scene.
For more details: FIR against Sacred Games for ‘insulting’ Rajiv Gandhi illustrates Congress’ stand on freedom of expression
Earlier, in July 2017, the Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam demanded Madhur Bhandarkar’s film Indu Sarkar to be screened before senior party leaders to abate their concerns of any defamatory references to the Gandhi family. A press conference for the promotion of Indu Sarkar had to be cancelled in Nagpur on July 16, 2017, after the Congress workers protested massively against the film. Earlier, a promotional event of the film at Pune too was cancelled after the protest of Congress workers. Indu Sarkar, set against the backdrop of the 1975-77 Emergency.
Its baffling to see self proclaimed custodians of #freedomOfExpression creating huge ruckus to prevent a legitimate release of #InduSarkar pic.twitter.com/orJVVJULdp
— Madhur Bhandarkar (@imbhandarkar) July 15, 2017
In the past, the Grand Old Party has banned several movies. One of the Congress’ Home Minister banned Dilip Kumar’s iconic film Jugnu.
199. @INCIndia's state Home Minister BANNED Dilip Kumar's iconic film Jugnu. pic.twitter.com/Bd0zsqjJVp
— Anand Ranganathan (@ARanganathan72) December 20, 2017
The INC also banned Balraj Sahni’s iconic play Jadoo ki Kursi that lampooned Nehru.
176. @INCIndia BANNED Balraj Sahni's iconic play Jadoo ki Kursi that lampooned Nehru. pic.twitter.com/cTKl4ClhWN
— Anand Ranganathan (@ARanganathan72) November 22, 2017
The Grand Old Party banned film ‘Innocence of Muslims’.
151. @INCIndia BANNED Nakoula's film Innocence of Muslims after US Consulate was attacked by protesters in Chennai. https://t.co/5rjaoBnuN0 pic.twitter.com/rYUrjVAyEQ
— Anand Ranganathan (@ARanganathan72) November 7, 2017
In 1962, the Congress blocked the release of 1962 war film Bhool Na Jana.
133. @INCIndia BLOCKED release of 1962 war film Bhool Na Jana, forcing Daan Singh into oblivion. (via @UrchinSpock) https://t.co/KmjmbH7bhU pic.twitter.com/2STNJbkKMO
— Anand Ranganathan (@ARanganathan72) October 29, 2017
The Congress banned the film Hawayein that had the 1984 Sikh genocide as a backdrop
81. @INCIndia BANNED the film Hawayein, that had the 1984 Sikh genocide as a backdrop. https://t.co/2QazZUjAdM pic.twitter.com/L40oRXAHfs
— Anand Ranganathan (@ARanganathan72) October 25, 2017
For more details: Delhi HC dismisses Congress’ plea against Swamy, can tweet freely on National Herald case
The Grand Old Party has a long history of suppressing freedom of speech and expression. The curb against freedom of speech and expression reached its zenith under the regime of Indira Gandhi. She imposed emergency in the country for 19 months. The leaders of the opposition were jailed, the newspapers were not allowed to report anything against the government, and the fundamental rights of citizens were snatched. All the aforementioned incidents are enough to show Congress party’s love and commitment for ‘freedom of speech and expression.’
