The film, set to release on August 30, features a sequence where people are shown dancing around a drum bearing the name of the Prophet
Mohammad Alamullah | Clarion India
NEW DELHI – As the release of the film The Diary of West Bengal nears, a controversy has erupted over a scene in the movie which offends the religious sentiments of the Muslim community. The film, set to release on August 30, features a sequence where people are shown dancing around a drum bearing the name of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), leading to widespread criticism and demands for the scene’s removal.
The backlash has been spearheaded by Ittehad Bainalmazahib, with Maulana Zafarul Hasan, its president, vocally condemning the film. At a press conference here on Sunday, Hasan expressed his disapproval. “No one can be allowed to hurt the religious sentiments of any group. All religions deserve respect, and no action should be taken that offends the sentiments of any particular faith.”
Hasan further alleged that modern films often include controversial scenes solely to attract attention and gain temporary popularity. “Today’s films are increasingly featuring scenes that are inappropriate and disrespectful to gain fleeting fame,” he said.
The film’s portrayal has particularly incensed Maulana Hasan Ali Rajani, coordinator of the program, who raised concerns about the potential social impact of the scene. “This scene is deeply hurtful to the Muslim Ummah and threatens the peace and social harmony of our country,” Rajani stated. He criticised the censor board for failing to remove the contentious scene despite previous directives to cut out other controversial parts of the film.
During the press conference, Vice President Qasim Rizvi, General Secretary SK Haider, and Joint Secretary Imran also voiced their concerns. Rizvi urged the censor board to act decisively. “We appeal to the Indian Censor Board to ensure the removal of this controversial scene to prevent widespread discontent among the Muslim community,” he said.
