The Censor Board Chief Leela Sampson’s resignation in protest against Centre’s interference and pressures has triggered a controversy between the board members and the Centre. Eight members out of the 23 in the board also have resigned today for the same reasons. Sampson alleges that the political bureaucrats in the government are controlling the board members. She said there is total interference on every small and big film. However, I&B minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore has condemned the allegations made by the board members. He demands them to come up with a solid proof to strengthen their allegations.

It all begins with overruling of Censor board objections on film ‘Messenger of God’, made by Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh. The Film Certification Appellate Tribunal (FCAT) has cleared the movie, whereas the censor board has believed that the film is encouraging conservatism among the people of the country.

Actually, the term of the Censor Board members has expired in 2014 itself. However, the members were given extension for many months until now. So, the Central government also has promptly approved their resignation letters. Academician Ira Bhasker, AICC secretary (Hindi dept) Pankaj Sharma, TV journalist Rajeev Masand, actor Arundhati Nag, filmmaker Shahji Karun, theatre personality M K Raina, TV producer Nikhil Alva and Lora K Prabhu are among the resigned.