Bengaluru police suspend performances of controversial Gandhi play
The Banashankari Police ordered the Suchitra Cinema and Cultural Academy to halt the play following protests and an attack on Addanda C. Cariappa.
The Bengaluru City Police have ordered the management of Suchitra Cinema and Cultural Academy to stop all current and upcoming shows of the play Gandhi Hatyeya Satya. According to The Hindu, the play by former Rangayana director Addanda C. Cariappa was scheduled to have its final performance on Monday, November 2, but it was cancelled.
The Banashankari Police issued a notice stating that complaints and counter-complaints regarding the production are under investigation. The police warned the academy management that they would face legal consequences if any performance caused law-and-order issues.
On Monday afternoon, tension rose outside the academy when protesters, allegedly from the Congress party, confronted Cariappa while he spoke to the media. Demonstrators reportedly threw slippers at him, accusing him of tarnishing Mahatma Gandhi’s legacy and spreading falsehoods.
Earlier, on October 31, the staging of the play was disrupted and ink was thrown on Cariappa. A group of protesters also filed a police complaint alleging the play makes derogatory references and distorts history.
A Congress delegation led by Lakshman M. protested at the Bengaluru City Police Commissioner’s office, demanding the arrest of Cariappa and the cancellation of the play. Lakshman M. noted that the play was being staged under police protection and questioned if Karnataka is being governed by the Congress or the BJP.
Prakash Belawadi of the Academy described the incident as unfortunate and stated that those with objections should seek legal recourse instead of physical attacks. He also said that the cancellation of shows by Munawar Faruqui and Kunal Kamra was equally wrong.