By IANS,
Kolkata: Theatre personalities and intellectuals Thursday held a rally in the city in protest against alleged harassment of veteran theatre director Benu Chattopadhay for purportedly using the pet slogan of the ruling Trinamool Congress- ‘Ma, Mati Manush’, in a play.
Several intellectuals including Chattopadhyay himself and actor Badshah Moitra walked along in protest.
“I and my team were harassed by Trinamool Congress supporters for using the words ‘Ma, Maati in my play. The play has been enacted several times before and it has nothing to do with the Trinamool’s Slogan of Ma Maati Manush (Mother, land, people),” said Chattopadhyay during the protest march.
“With each passing day the growing intolerance of the government is coming to the fore. Has the Trinamool got a copyright on ‘Maa Mati Manush? On what ground could they harass a veteran like Chattopadhyay,” Moitra said.
The dialogues appear in the play “Setubandhan”, written by Ajitesh Bandopadhyay and directed by Chattopadhyay which was staged earlier this week at the Assam Bangla Natya Utsav at Nripendranarayan Institute in Dinahata in Cooch Behar district.
Afterwards, several Trinamool supporters threatened and harassed Chattopadhyay and his team compelling him to apologise.