A plea has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking a stay on the release of Why I killed Gandhi on any streaming platform, Live Law reported. The film is set to release on the OTT platform, Limelight, on Sunday, Mahatma Gandhi’s 74th death anniversary.
The petition has been filed by one Sikarndar Behl, through advocate Anuj Bhandari. According to the petitioner, if the release and exhibition of the movie is not stopped, it would “irreparably tarnish the image” of Mahatma Gandhi and would cause “public unrest, hatred and disharmony.”
“The movie is aimed at creating communal disharmony, spreading hatred and disturbing peace,” the plea adds.
It states that the film’s trailer shows an attempt to blame Mahatma Gandhi for the partition of India and the atrocities against Hindus in Pakistan, and charges the film’s makers with attempting to justify the killing of Gandhi.
The plea further states that Why I killed Gandhi is going for a direct OTT release without being cleared by the CBFC. The petition thus also seeks proper regulation of all content being released on OTT platforms.
Recently, the All India Cine Workers’ Association wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, demanding a ban on Why I killed Gandhi. In the letter, AICWA said the film “glorifies Nathuram Godse, the traitor, and killer of our father of nation, Mahatma Gandhi.”
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Godse was the assassin of Gandhi. Following the Partition of India in September 1947, the Hindu nationalist Godse fired three bullets at Gandhi on January 30, 1948. A member of the Hindu Mahasabha, and former member of the right-wing extremist organisation Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Godse made several statements on his motives behind the assassination, which primarily amounted to his belief that Gandhi had sided too much with Muslims during the Partition.
The release of Why I Killed Gandhi is also being opposed by the Maharashtra wing of the Indian National Congress party. Last week, Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee President Nana Patole said that the party will not allow the release of the film in the state.