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Journalism of Courage
MUMBAI, August 14: Rattled by the gruesome murder of audio king Gulshan Kumar and piqued over Chief Minister Manohar Joshi andhis deputy Gopinath Munde’s statement over their underworld links, the film fraternity today virtually pounced on the minister at a meeting held in his chamber at Mantralaya.
Munde, who also holds the home portfolio, found his diplomatic skills quite inadequate in dealing with this angry group of filmmakers. His disclosure that police have provided protection to seven prominent film personalities, including Amitabh Bachchan, and a promise of general security cover to all those who would ask for it, did not cut much ice with the delegation.
“We have lost faith in the state’s ability to maintain law and order and feel like we are passing through a phase of emergency,” said an angry member of the delegation. “If the state can’t protect us then we will have to knock some other doors where we can live peacefully,” Producer J Om Prakash, usually a soft-spoken person, told the minister.
The scene became so embarrassing for Munde that he asked Presspersons to leave his chamber. However, according to sources the delegation wanted an explanation from the minister about his remarks about Bollywood’s underworld links. “Are you trying to say that all of us are criminals dealing in black money,” asked a producer. J Om Prakash asked the minister if politicians and industrialists don’t have black money. “It is irrelevant to talk about such things when people in film industry are getting killed,” he said.
Munde accepted that such generalisations should be avoided and tried to divert attention by saying that his government was willing to pool in Rs 100 crore for setting up a Film Finance Corporation, but the Centre should also chip in.
Later talking to presspersons , Munde denied reports that the police were aware of the threat to Gulshan Kumar’s life. He said neither police nor the government had any such knowledge. Moreover, Gulshan Kumar had never asked for police protection, Munde added. and said: “Very soon all the four persons involved in the crime will be nabbed.” Regarding containing underworld activities in the metropolis, Munde said unless an extradition treaty is signed with the UAE and Pakistan, the state government would remain helpless. “We can’t take any action against underworld kingpins like Dawood Ibrahim who are based abroad.
G P Sippy later described their talks with the minister as partially satisfactory. “We hope to meet him before another murder takes place,” he said sarcastically.
