RSP MP Asim Sah raises concerns over censorship board appointments

KATHMANDU: In a recent session of the House of Representatives on Sunday, Asim Sah, a Member of Parliament from the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), criticized the qualifications of members appointed to the Censorship Board.

He called for the removal of politically appointed individuals from the board and stressed the need for competent people with a genuine understanding of cinema to take their place.

Sah described films as a reflection of society and accused the government of undermining freedom of expression by imposing restrictions on the film industry.

He warned that excessive censorship could backfire on the government itself, metaphorically suggesting that the government’s lifespan might be shortened by such actions.

He further expressed solidarity with the filmmakers’ ongoing protests against censorship, stating, “Films are a mirror of society. The issues of society are reflected in films, and by limiting freedom of expression, the government is undermining this very essence. I urge the government to remove all politically appointed, non-censorship experts from the board and appoint individuals who understand the art of cinema. If unnecessary censorship continues, it could come back to haunt the government.”

This statement follows a controversy in which the Censorship Board had initially denied approval for the screening of Rajaganj, a film featuring a speech by Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli.

After certain edits were made to the content, the film was granted permission for release.

Sah’s remarks underline the growing tensions between the film industry and government over issues of censorship and artistic freedom.