Anti-Aamir Khan agitation gains momentum in Vadodara

Vadodra, Dec 20 (UNI) On the eve of the nation-wide release of ''Taare Zameen Par'' tomorrow, the anti-Aamir Khan agitation has gained momentum in the city with another pro-Hindu student body, Hind Rakshak, today warning the film's distributors and exhibitors in Gujarat not to screen the movie until the actor tenders an apology for his remarks against the Narmada Dam.

Joining the on-going anti-Aamir Khan agitation, about 50 activists of the Hind Rakshak today burnt posters of Aamir's new film within the premises of Aradhana Talkies in the posh Sayajiganj area of the city.

The protestors, who submitted a memorandum to cinema Hall owner Narendra Joshi with roses, left the premises only after the owner announced his decision not to screen the film until Aamir apologised to the people for his ''anti-Narmada Dam'' stand.

Following the agitation against screening of the Aamir Khan-starrer, all the cinema owners, including the owners of the three multiplexes, in the city stopped advance booking of the film awaiting a final decision of the Gujarat state association of film distributors and exhibitors on the issue.

Talking to UNI, Hind Suraksha president Narendra Mishra said their organisation had decided not to allow screening of any Aamir Khan-starrer film in city 'unless and until' the latter tenders an unconditional apology to the people for extending support to Narmada Bachao Andolan leader Medha Patkar without knowing the ground realities and the drinking water problem in the state.

Alleging that Aamir had insulted the people of Gujarat by opposing the move to increase the Dam's height with Medha Patkar last year, Mishra said their organisation had planned to stage similar protest demonstrations before all cinemas and multiplexes in the coming days to seek their support.

Meanwhile, city police had registered an offence against a mob that yesterday stormed into the PVR multiplex and pulled down and burnt the posters of ''Taare Zameen Par'', which was scheduled to be released tomorrow. But no arrest had been made in this connection so far.

It may be recalled that following Aamir's support to Medha Patkar in her anti-Narmada movement, film distributors and exhibitors were forced to take off both 'Fanaa' and 'Rang De Basanti' from theatres last year in the wake of a state-wide agitation and self-immolation of a youth in a cinema hall in Jamnagar.

UNI