Amidst row and demonstrations over Aamir Khan and Anushka Sharma starrer ‘PK’, the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has decided to exempt the movie from entertainment tax.
“Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has watched the movie and has directed that films like Aamir Khan’s ‘PK’ should be exempted from the entertainment tax,” a senior officer said here.
The portrayal of Hindu sentiments in the movie has evoked criticism across the state.
Hindu Yuva Vahini activists yesterday burnt the effigy of Aamir and staged a protest against the screening of ‘PK’ at a cinema hall in Bareilly.
The HYV activists staged a protest before Prasad talkies in Kotwali police station area and also barged inside forcing the cancellation of the show.
UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav praised ‘PK’, saying, “It has a message and this should reach everybody’s heart and mind.
“Those who have not seen the movie should go and watch it. You will surely understand why I took this decision… I took a decision to make it tax-free so that maximum number of people can watch it,” he told reporters while explaining his government’s move to make the movie tax free, which will cut its ticket prices and boost business.
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Yadav said he could not watch the movie earlier due to lack of time, and finally he managed to watch it last night.
The SP government’s decision comes amid raging protests against the movie by Hindu bodies who claim that it hurts religious sentiments.
