Strict action against attack on creative freedom: CM

Thiruvananthapuram: Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan stated that the government will take stringent action against any attack on creative freedom.
Chief minister’s statement in the assembly on Wednesday came in the wake of incidents of Youth Congress activists protesting against and blocking film shooting in the state, in connection with the controversy involving actor Joju George. Responding to a submission by MLA M Mukesh in the matter, the chief minister said that the government will not allow anyone to take law into their hands. The encroachment into the creative freedom of the artists will be dealt with firmly by the government. Dictating what others should eat or wear is a Fascist approach. There are people in the country who are involved in such practices. We call them uncivilized anti-socials, he said.
He said that the attack on creative freedom has been happening in the state too and no force can deter anyone from practicing one’s profession without fear. The government will take strong action against anyone who tries to do so, he said.
Without naming Joju, Vijayan said that the attack against the actor is not an isolated incident, and there are indications of a planned decision behind this. Without naming Youth Congress activists either, he said that it was surprising that the group of people behind such attacks are taking the cover of democracy for their deeds. He warned that they should realise that the soil is not fertile for Fascist practices and they should give up their beliefs that they can use muscle power.
Opposition leader VD Satheesan criticised the Youth Congress way of protest and said that blocking film shootings is not justifiable and the protest of Congress is not against film personalities, but against fuel price hike. He said that the party will take action against anyone who resorts to such practices.