The Election Commission (EC) stalled the release of the biopic on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday, 10 April, citing a breach of Model Code of Conduct ahead of the general elections.
The order also applies to the broadcasting of NaMo TV and a web series based on Modi’s life, according to sources in the Election Commission.
The release of the Vivek Oberoi-starrer film, PM Narendra Modi, was stalled with the poll panel stating that “any biopic material in the nature of biography/hagiography sub-serving the purposes of any political entity or any individual entity connected to it, which is intended to, or which has the potential to disturb the level playing field, should not be displayed in electronic media, including cinematograph.”
Reacting to the news, Vishal Dadlani, who has been vocal about the breach of the Model Code of Conduct by the ruling BJP (Bhartiya Janata Party) government on multiple occasions during the campaigning, told The Quint in an exclusive conversation that the EC has been acting subservient to the ruling party.
“I think the EC really needs to pull its socks up, that’s my nett assessment of the situation because the average public doesn’t usually discuss the EC’s behavior, but this time, they are. People are clearly seeing that the EC this time is acting subservient to the ruling party, which is a shame because its detrimental to Democracy. It’s one more institution, impaired.”Vishal Dadlani
So does this move by the EC finally give us any hope just days before the polling begins?
“I’ll tell you what, from the promo, that film looked like - I was really looking forward to seeing it. I had a really good laugh when I saw the trailer. I think a lot of people did. Just see the YouTube comments and you’ll realise that the EC might have done them a favour by blocking this film,” says Dadlani.
“Everybody knows its propaganda, so its cool. At the end of the day, its just that there are certain rules and a code of conduct is in place, but that doesn’t seem to be making any difference,” he added.
Dadlani says that the Model Code of Conduct has been broken on many occasions and the Modi biopic wasn’t really an exception.
“Even yesterday, the PM asked for votes based on Balakot and Pulwama despite a directive from the EC to not do that but he’s done it in a speech that’s all over the place and nobody seems to care. The code of conduct is pretty much violated for one particular person or party. I don’t really know what to say. Obviously, I have faith in this country by and large, but I’m at a loss here,” he said.
“It just doesn’t make any sense. If anybody else had done this, they’d be making speeches about how wrong this is. But when they do it, it’s literally like, ‘hum karein to leela, baaki karein toh character dheela’.”Vishal Dadlani
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