Lucknow’s political circles are buzzing as Samajwadi Party MLA Pankaj Malik unleashes a scathing attack on the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) amid the escalating row over the romantic-action flick ‘Yadav Ji Ki Love Story’. In an exclusive interview, Malik didn’t hold back, accusing the current administration and the censor board of fueling divisive content to pit communities against each other on caste and religious lines.
The MLA painted a grim picture of deliberate societal engineering. ‘As long as this government is in power, they’ll keep stirring tensions—be it over mosque microphones or targeting specific castes,’ he charged. He argued that films like this are the latest weapon in a broader arsenal designed to fracture social harmony.
Malik zeroed in on the CBFC’s failures. ‘It’s baffling how content that wounds societal sentiments gets a green light,’ he said. ‘The board, under the central government’s oversight, should have nixed this from the start.’ He drew parallels to past controversies, like the ‘Ghuskhore Pandit’ film, warning of a pattern aimed at brewing unrest.
Calling for a redirection in filmmaking, Malik urged creators to honor true icons. ‘Make movies on leaders like Netaji Mulayam Singh Yadav, Chaudhary Charan Singh, Mahatma Gandhi, and Bhagat Singh,’ he proposed. ‘These figures uplifted society and the state—let the next generation draw inspiration from them, not divisive drivel.’
The SP leader demanded immediate government intervention to halt such films and prevent future provocations. His outspoken critique has amplified the debate, with many questioning the CBFC’s role in safeguarding cultural sensitivities in an increasingly polarized India.