Prakash Jha reacts to Lucknow promo ban

Director Prakash Jha is "surprised and saddened" over UP administration's apprehension to promote Aarakshan in Lucknow. Unofficial reports even suggest that the police had instructions to arrest Aarakshan team if they go ahead with their promo plans. Do you think the ban is justified?

Late Wednesday, Amitabh Bachchan tweeted, “Our Lucknow trip tomorrow cancelled because the UP administration withdraws all permission to conduct promo (promotional activities). The administration does not allow us to enter the city… unofficial reports by police say they have instructions to arrest us if we do.”

Producer-director Prakash Jha confirmed the news, “I’m surprised and saddened that the administration is so apprehensive. We’ve been promoting Aarakshan in Mumbai, Bangalore, Kolkata and Patna and there’s been no law and order problem anywhere.”



A press conference with Jha and the film’s stars, Bachchan, Deepika Padukone and Manoj Bajpayee, was scheduled on August 4 at Lucknow’s Hotel Lineage. But on August 3, the hotel’s general manager, Shantanu B Roy, wrote to say that the event “could not be entertained as the district administrator had denied the permission to do so”.

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Bachchan tweeted further: “Feel disappointed that we are not allowed to promote film in Lucknow, UP … admin feels will excite law and order problem... They say it is a sensitive subject and do not want us to enter the city even… without even seeing the film duly Censored?? Strange.”

Do you think the ban is justified?

OBC leader and state public works minister Chaggan Bhujbal’s asserted on TV that he would not allow the film to be screened in Maharashtra either because it’s “anti-reservation”. Jha responds, “Who cares that the censors have passed it without any cuts? I’m carrying on with the promotions in the hope that once people see it, their questions will be answered.”

IN PICS: Saif-Deepika's chemistry in Aarakshan

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