IMPAA condemns attack on Bhatt

Mumbai, June 15 (UNI) Condemning the yesterday's shoot-out in the office of producer-director Mahesh Bhatt here, a delegation the Indian Motion Pictures Producers' Association (IMPAA) here today observed that a delegation would soon meet Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh and Home Minister R R Patil and appeal to them to take action as such attacks are becoming a regular feature.

Briefing reporters here this afternoon, IMPAA president Shabnam Kapoor said the executive members of the body, whose membership is 8,500, have stood up in support of Mahesh Bhatt.

''I do not know how do these alleged underworld people have the audacity to come on national television and take responsibility for the shoot-out. There have been occasions when in my personal capacity I have gone to the investigating agencies and volunteered information, but nothing has been done so far,'' she said.

''Has any criminal been brought to face the trial? Will it take a dead body for the people to wake up?'' Ms Kapoor questioned,'' adding we thought we were living in a democratic country.

''Whether it is Aamir Khan, Mahesh Bhatt, Javed Akhtar or Shabana Azmi, we are targeted,'' he added.

''Several members of the film fraternity like David Dhavan, Madhur Bandarkar and Sudhir Mishra, who are now in Dubai for the Indian International Film Awards (IIFA), have called to extend their support,'' she said.

Ashok Pandit, who spoke on the occasion, said it was wrong and unfair to target Mahesh Bhatt just because he was outspoken on various issues.

''We, at IMPAA, say in spirit that we are with Mahesh Bhatt in his time of crisis. We are deeply concerned about the well being of Mahesh and his elder brother Mukesh Bhatt. We feel the attack is not on Vishesh Films but on the entire film industry. We thank the police for their prompt action in reaching the spot and providing security to the Bhatt family,'' Pandit added.

Mohit Suri, a member of the Bhatt family said, ''It is very wrong to isolate somebody. We are just soft targets. When I told Mahesh Bhatt to do something after the shoot-out, he replied 'Does Mandela have to prove himself?' Mahesh will not cow down. Yesterday, no film shooting was cancelled and work was as usual.'' ''The industry has always stood up against all odds whether natural calamities or anything else. We feel sad when somebody accuses the Bollywood of such contacts. But, we are not going to allow somebody to sit in a corner far away and use us by remote control,'' Pandit added.

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