Freemuse Defending Artistic Freedom
Theatre festival organised by the Indian People’s Theatre Association (IPTA) has been cancelled due to threats from two Hindu nationalist groups over the upcoming satire plays Jati Hi Poocho Sadhu Ki and Besharammev Jayate deeming them as “anti-national” and “anti-Hindu”, reported Digis Mak.
According to The Guardian, the Bajrang Dal, youth-wing of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) a hard-line Hindu organisation with connections to the ruling nationalist party Bharatiya Janata (BJP), threatened IPTA with “violent agitation” if the festival continues.
VHP wrote a letter to sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) of Chhatarpur saying that “The programme would be against Hindu culture and religion, hence we demand that [festival] be stopped, so that public sentiment is respected.”
The satirical plays are treating about topics such as corruption and selfishness.
There is an ongoing petition circulated online calling for support in staging of Jaat Hi Pucho Sadhu Ki at IPTA Theatre Festival.
