(a) whether there is strong resentment among the people of the Balmiki and
various other communities following the use of derogatory language in various
films, serials and books against these communities;
(b) if so, the facts thereof; and
(c) the remedial steps taken/likely to be taken by the Government in this regard?
THE MINISTER OF STATE OF THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING (SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)
(a) & (b) : It has been informed by Publications Division and Prasar Bharati that
no such derogatory language has been used against any community in
books/publications and programmes of the two organisations. The Ministry of
Information and Broadcasting does not have any information about serials shown
on Private Channels or books published by private publishing houses.
Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has also informed that in an old
case regarding the film Sant Valmiki certified as `U` by the Board in 1991, the
District Court, Sangrur in a petition filed by the Bharatiya Valmiki Dharma Samaj
had ruled that the certificate issued by the CBFC is not in accordance with
Section 5B of the Cinematograph Act, 1952. An appeal has been filed in the
High Court. However, this is an isolated case and no generalizations can be
made on this basis.
(c) : Under the guidelines for film certification of 6th December, 1991 issued
under Section 5B of the Cinematograph Act, 1952 it has inter alia been provided
that:
? Visuals or words which promote communal, obscurantist, anti-scientific and anti-national attitude are not presented;
? Visuals or words contemptuous of racial, religious or other groups are not presented.