Maratha Tigers is releasing on February 5. Young Sena leader Dr Amol Kolhe has played a lead role in it.
The attempt by the Congress-led government of Karnataka to ban the film 'Marathi Tigers' is the best example of their intolerance and hypocrisy, Shiv Sena leader and MP from Arvind Sawant said on Sunday.
"They talk about intolerance and create a huge controversy. However, their party's government in Karnataka seeks to impose a ban on 'Maratha Tigers'. Is this not intolerance?" asked Sawant, who was speaking in a public meeting organised by the leaders fighting for border dispute.
Maratha Tigers is releasing on February 5. Young Sena leader Dr Amol Kolhe has played a lead role in it. Some organisations in Karnataka feel that the film is provocative and might create unrest in the state.
According to media reports, the police in Belgaum are also evaluating the matter ahead of the release, leading to speculations that the state might approach court, seeking a ban on the movie. Sawant extended full support of his party to the movement of including Belgaum and other disputed areas in Maharashtra.
Leaders from disputed villages observed first 'Hutatma Diwas' in Mumbai on Sunday. It has been celebrated in disputed areas every year for several decades in the memory of people who sacrificed their life for the issue. They also branded their movement as the "second battle for Samyukta Maharashtra".
Over 865 Marathi-speaking villages of Belgaum, Bidar and Karwar districts are part of Karnataka since the two states were formed. Belgaum-based party Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES) has been fighting since then to include them in Maharashtra on linguistic grounds. The matter is at present pending in the Supreme Court.
Chief guest of the event Deepak Pawar, professor of politics at Mumbai university, told the gathering that Karnataka is converting Marathi medium schools into Kannada medium in a planned way just to weaken the movement. MES leader Deelip Mistry and others urged parliamentarians of Maharashtra to come together and lobby with the Centre for this cause.
Shiv Sena leader and lead of the movie Maratha Tigers Dr Amol Kolhe spoke to dna. Excerpts:
How do you view Karnataka's reported attempt to ban your movie?
The proposed ban would be most unfortunate. The film doesn't intend to create a rift between Kannadigas and Marathis in the disputed area. It just portrays the problems of 40 lakh people living in the disputed area. As a state, they must first see the film and take care of the people they proclaim as their own. Some pro-Kannada organisations have started a campaign against my film without even watching it.
Can you explain the subject of the movie?
It's a symbolic love story based in the disputed area.
What is your next step?
I will start promotion of my film from Belgaum from Monday, where I am attending an event to pay homage to martyrs. Let them do whatever they can.
Does that mean that the Sena will promote the film in Shiv Sena-style?
We will do it in Marathi style. Party chief Uddhav Thackeray has not yet declared his stand on the film, but the party's stand on the border issue is clear since its birth.
But your party has earlier showed a lot of intolerance, the latest being protesting Pakistani singer Ghulam Ali to perform in Mumbai...
My film is not from Pakistan. I'm also not a Pakistani. Those who were supporting Ali disappeared when the Pathankot attack happened.
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