Dalit activists burn effigy of Prakash Jha

Demanding a ban on the screening of soon to be released film Aarakshan, some Dalit activists today burnt the effigy of the film's director Prakash Jha.

Surinder Dhanda, President of Ambedkar Sena and a host of other activists presented a memorandum, addressed to the Punjab Chief Minister, to the local SDM Manpreet Singh.

Claiming that reservation was their constitutional right, they accused Jha of playing with their sentiments. The leaders appealed to the CM to take immediate steps to stop the film's release, scheduled for August 12.

They warned cinema houses and multiplex owners not to screen the film without the consent of Dalits.

"In case they do so, they should be prepared to face the music," the leaders said.

Earlier, the activists took out a protest march from local Plahi Gate, passed through different bazaars, converged on National Highway 1 and burnt the effigy.