We strongly condemn the arbitrary and high-handed action of the police in Mumbai in stopping the screening of the video films Junoon ke Badhte Kadam and In Dark Times by Gauhar Raza, at DAV College, Bhandup, on July 20, 2002. The show was organized by a group of cultural activists and artists called Insaniyat. Two of the organizers, artists Archana Hande and Sameer, were detained in a patently illegal action and the video cassettes have been confiscated without any authorization. It is

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obvious that the police in Bhandup has acted at the behest of the local ABVP and BJP unit.

The police action in Mumbai goes against the constitutional right to freedom of expression. Given the political complexion of the Maharashtra government and the secular character of the films, this communal offensive is all the more surprising. We express our solidarity with Insaniyat and call upon all secular groups and parties to defeat such moves.