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">THE MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI L.K. ADVANI): During Zero Hour yesterday and again today, a serious concern has been expressed by some hon. Members and today, in my presence by the Leader of the Opposition on the alleged glorification of Nathuram Godse in a Marathi play, `Me Nathuram Godse Boltoy'. `Boltoy' means, I speak. The House was assured that the Central Government would ascertain the facts from the State Government and place them before Parliament. The matter was taken up with the Government of Maharashtra. According to information received from the State Government, the play in question was cleared for performance by the Maharashtra Stage Performance Scrutiny Board, an autonomous body of the State Government. The play was staged on the 10th of July, 1998 in Shivaji Mandir Theatre, Mumbai.

SHRI P. UPENDRA (VIJAYAWADA): The autonomous body which cleared the play must be disbanded immediately. The censor committee which cleared the play must be disbanded immediately. (Interruptions)

SHRI L.K. ADVANI: I may add to this. Immediately after getting the message from the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs that the issue had been raised in the House and an assurance had been given that either yesterday or today the Government would come forth with facts, I first asked my Home Secretary to speak to the Chief Secretary of Maharashtra to find out the facts. Then, later on, in the evening, in a different connection, the Chief Minister came to see me and I told him personally that this is my Government's view. And he said, "Well, if the Government's view is that, I would try to respect it and see what needs to be done."(Interruptions)

SHRI BASU DEB ACHARIA : What is the view of the Maharashtra Government?(Interruptions)

MR. SPEAKER: Prof. Kurien, let him complete his speech.

SHRI L.K. ADVANI: I told him as the representative of the Central Government, I disapprove of it and we would like the State Government to take necessary steps to prohibit the performance of the play.

SHRI P. UPENDRA : The committee which has cleared the play must be disbanded.

">PROF. P.J. KURIEN (MAVELIKARA): Mr. Home Minister, but the problem is these autonomous bodies are not supposed to work against the fundamental ethos of this country...(Interruptions) Let me formulate my points. How can an autonomous body set up by the Maharashtra Government clear this play? The purpose of the play and the intent of the playwright is quitely evident that it is to denigrate Mahatma Gandhiji and glorify his assassin. How can that play be cleared? On behalf of all the Members, I am requesting that that body should be disbanded and action should be taken against them. They are working against the very fundamental ethos of the country.

SHRI L.K. ADVANI: I know that. I know what I can do. But at the same time, I do not think that that advice would be disregarded. It is an advice given to the State Government. But I would plead with the House that there are two issues involved in it. One is the State Government and then it is a body which was set up by the State Government, or working with it. We cannot discuss that. I do not know who the members of that committee were. We cannot be discussing that.

SHRI A.C. JOS (MUKUNDAPURAM): It is a question of the ethos of the country. Number of autonomous bodies are there. How can they work like that?