Intolerant Bajrang Dal over too many Muslim characters forces play to halt midway
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Shivamogga: Members of Bajrang Dal and other Hindutva organisations were alleged to have forced a play to stop mid-way in Karnataka's Shivamogga over the allegation that the play portrays a Muslim character as lead besides most of the actors were from Muslim community.
According to The News Minute, the play was the Kannada adaptation of the famous English play 'Fiddler on the Roof' by Joseph Stein and produced by acclaimed writer and lyricist Jayanth Kaikini with the title 'Jotegiruvanu Chandira'.
The play was organised by Rangabelaku, a Shivamogga-based theatre company at Anavatti village on Sunday, July 3 when the said incident occurred.
It is reported that a group of men raising slogans of 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' and 'Jai Hind' rose on their foot when a scene appeared where it was shown a Muslim man marrying a Hindu woman. The right wing members walked up to the stage demanding the organisation to stop the play while they were raising slogans.
It was when some of the members climbed up the stage while running the show, the play was forced to halt. Reports also suggest that too many Muslim characters in the play was also a matter for Bajrang Dal members to take objection against the play.
The story of the play centres on a baker named Bademiya, who has three daughters and struggles to strike a balance with his religiously orthodox life, The News Minute reported.
One of the members of Rangabelaku was quoted by The Hindu as saying that the play has been staged for over fifteen years by the troupe with the intention to spread communal harmony and peace in society.
The Anavatti police told TNM that by 10 pm on Sunday, Rangabelaku had wrapped up the play following the row. "There were about three-four Bajrang Dal members who attended the play. We received information that the play was disrupted, and by the time we got there at 10 pm, the issue was over. Later, we gathered them and warned them against incendiary actions," an inspector with the Anavatti station said.
