'Udaipur Files Is Deeply Communal': Arshad Madani Moves Supreme Court Against Clearance To The Film
Islamic scholar Maulana Arshad Madani has filed strong objections before the Supreme Court against the clearance granted to the controversial film Udaipur Files by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting's screening committee. Madani, president of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, contends that the film's content is not only factually misleading but also deeply communal in nature.
In his petition, Madani argues that Udaipur Files promotes a dangerous narrative by portraying Indian Muslims as sympathisers or agents of Pakistani terrorists. 'These narratives do not merely concern India-Pakistan tensions but actively portray Indian Muslims as inherently disloyal, sympathetic to, or working at the behest of terror groups," he stated in court filings. Such depictions, he argues, are both mala fide and aimed at stoking communal tensions across the country.
He has also raised serious concerns over the manner in which the film received approval. Madani alleges that the Ministry's screening committee order lacked proper reasoning and failed to adequately respond to his detailed objections. 'The committee's report simply records some submissions and suggests six inconsequential changes, without analysing the broader communal implications," he claimed.
Furthermore, Madani has alleged a 'conflict of interest" in the composition of the screening committee. Since the CBFC (Central Board of Film Certification) had already granted certification to the film — a decision under challenge — Madani argues that delegating the matter to a committee largely comprising CBFC members undermines the credibility of the review process.
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