Revolt in censor board: Members to approach govt against Nihalani

Some board members are planning to approach the govt regarding Nihalani's "unilateral decision making style and cavalier attitude".
Revolt in censor board: Members to approach govt against Nihalani
Revolt in censor board: Members to approach govt against Nihalani
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As conflict between Censor Board Chairman Pahlaj Nihalani and some members of the board only seems to be intensifying, the latter is planning to make a formal representation to Prime minister Narendra Modi and I&B minister Arun Jaitley about Nihalani's "unilateral decision making style and cavalier attitude," The Times of India reported.

Board members have argued that decisions regarding films, including the arbitrary snipping of cuss words which the members have opposed, are taken by the board chief unilaterally.

A board member told TOI, "There are a few of us who feel that the chairperson has been working on his own accord without listening to anyone on the Board."

However, Nihalani said that the cuss words list had not been recirculated and rejected all allegations against him. "I am doing my job according to the rules and the allegations made are completely baseless and false. The members who are complaining actually don't want to work," he told TOI.

The TOI report further states, "Former I&B secretary and board member Raghu Menon in a recent letter to fellow members said he was 'disturbed' at being treated in a 'cavalier and offhand fashion' by CBFC chairman and CEO and the 'utter insensitivity and disregard' of the I&B ministry . Announcing that he would not attend any more board meetings Menon said, 'I have been involved in the working of the CBFC for the last 20 years but never have I seen it sink to such levels of total disregard for the members. It would be better to disband the Board if it is found to be so irrelevant.'"

Nihalani has shot back saying that Menon's term had completed this month and so there is no need for him to attend board meetings.

The board, especially Nihalani, recently came under fire on social media for shortening two lip-locking scenes from the latest bond film "Spectre", citing them as "unnecessarily long". 

Filmmaker Ashoke Pandit tweeted:

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