http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Panel_calls_IB_secretary_in_Aaja_Nachle_row/articleshow/2636030.cms
Panel calls I&B secretary in Aaja Nachle row 20 Dec 2007, 0148 hrs IST,TNN NEW DELHI: The National Commission for SCs has decided to call the I&B secretary to clarify if procedures were followed for censor clearance of Madhuri Dixit-starrer 'Aaja Nachle' in which a song with "casteist overtones" triggered unrest within Dalit community and led to a temporary ban. While I&B joint secretary appeared before the Dalit panel in response to the summons, he could not state if the ministry had nominated an expert on the censor board to clear the movie. Censor Board chairperson Sharmila Tagore conceded the fault in the song, but only after she had argued that mochi was used in the lyrics as a profession and that she did not know it was also a caste. Commission sources said Tagore was shown the SC list to show that mochi was part of it and was also read out the Civil Rights Act which states that use of "casteist" words in the traditional sense was also a crime. It was argued that the lyrics -- 'a cobbler claiming to be a goldsmith' -- was an old saying. Producer Yash Chopra, who did not come for the hearing, appended his apology to the commission while undertaking to be careful in future. Madhuri, Chopra, director Anil Mehta and lyricist Piyush Mishra did not come. An advocate nominated by Chopra told the panel that he was unable to travel for health reasons, and also sought exemption for others. NCSC head Buta Singh said that a crime had been committed and he was seeking an apology on affidavit.
