Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Sitaram Yechury on Wednesday dubbed the Maharashtra Government's order to show Marathi movies in primetime as a 'completely antithetical' move to democracy.
"Everything that is happening is completely antithetical to a democracy and a democratic order. People cannot dictate to a society according to their own whims and fancies," he told ANI.
"In a democracy, there are certain rules by which all of us go. Those must be accepted by all. Therefore, if these sorts of compulsions and pressures are coming, these are all wrong," he added.
Maharashtra Culture Minister Vinod Tawde had yesterday defended the government's decision, saying that it had been taken to promote Marathi movies.
"We will talk to Marathi film producers and multiplex owners to decide on two show timings to show Marathi films, out of which they can choose one. Prime time is the time when all the members of the family can come to watch a movie, like the 6 pm to 9 pm slot," Tawde said.
The State government is also considering making the screening of a documentary on Dadasaheb Phalke mandatory before every movie.