Ban on Parzania in Gujarat-Another Attack on Free Speech

We, the people of Gujarat and elsewhere in India, strongly condemn the Sangh Parivars unlawful ban on Parzania, a film that portrays the devastating story of a family caught in the vortex of violence unleashed on innocent people of Gujarat in 2002. This is not the first time that the goons of Bajrang Dal, backed by the BJP (and in this case the cinema owners) have gotten away with such undemocratic and unconstitutional actions in Gujarat. This film needs to be screened in Gujarat more than any other state in India! The state government, instead of tacitly supporting the unlawful actions of such goons, should encourage the screening of this film and ensure total protection to cinema owners, distributors and the viewers.

We, the people of Gujarat and elsewhere in India, demand that the government of Gujarat take stern legal action against those who have gone on record saying that they will not allow this film to be screened. These goons should be made to realize that they and their methods are not tolerated.

This unlawful ban on Parzania in Gujarat, is a slap on the face of all those who uphold the values of free speech and justice. But, through this petition, we express our compassion and solidarity to Dara Modi and family, whose son is missing since the massacre in 2002 and on whose experience the film is based, and to the hundreds of other families in Gujarat and elsewhere who have suffered immensely because of mindless violence and hatred.