Deepa Mehta may join protest today

CHANDIGARH, Jan 5: A number of writers and theatre artists will participate in the march being taken out by Chetna Manch tomorrow to protest the violent means adopted by certain organisations to stop the screening of film 8220;Fire8221; in various parts of the country and condemn the attempt by certain organisations to browbeat Dilip Kumar into toeing their line.

According to the president of Chetna Manch, Gursharan Singh, quot;the director of the film Deepa Mehta is likely to participate in the protest march.quot; quot;The march is being organised to protest against the attack on film 8220;Fire8221; and in defence of right to freedom of expression,quot; said the general secretary Dr M.S. Randhawa.

Protesters will march through the city with banners and placards in their hands. The march will start from Gandhi Bhawan at Punjab University, and while passing through sectors 14, 15 and 16 will terminate at Sector 17 Plaza.

Condemning the recent vandalising of a theatre at Patiala where the film was being run, Dr Randhawa said,quot; It is the fundamental right of every artist, writer, painter and intellectual to express his or her views through these mediums. Any attack either by the government or individual on this right will be considered an attack on our right to expressionquot;.