SAHMAT strongly condemns the disruption sought to be created by the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha activists during the performance of a play by noted theatre personality Habib Tanveer on the morning of August 15 at Gwalior, The play Ponga Pandit being performed since 1958 which critiques the regressive caste ideology emphasises that “ equality of man is through deed not birth”. The play was alsi attacked ten years ago when it was performed in Gwalior This is yet another instance of the intolerance displayed by the Sangh Parivar outfits to any talk of reform in the Hindu society. It may be recalled that a couple of years ago Deepa Mehta was made to abondon the shooting

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of the film ‘Water’ by the Sangh Parivar because it had dared to discuss the plight of widows under Hindu orthodoxy. It is ironical to witness the Sangh Parivar defending the most backward of practices among Hindus-like Sati and untouchability – while demanding a uniform civil code.

SAHMAT appeals to the Madhya Pradesh administration to take stringent action under the law against the disruptors. SAHMAT calls upon the artistic community, particularly in Madhya Pradesh where Habib Tanveer is currently touring, to express solidarity with him and foil the designs of the Parivar outfits through united action.