Panaji: The ruling BJP in Goa on Tuesday said it has no plans to set censor board for plays and the traditional Konkani musical theatres 'tiatr'.
"There are no plans for setting up any censor board to certify plays and tiatr before they go onstage. All these are rumours spread by unsuccessful politicians who want to gain mileage," BJP spokesman Wilfred Mesquita said.
Refuting the rumours of setting up of censor board for the theatre forms, Mesquita said: "I don't know from where this news of censor board has come. There is no such proposal. We know it is a form of entertainment and if someone is hurt he can file defamation case in the court."
There were widespread protests by theatre groups in the state after reports in the media claimed that the Goa government had plans to set up censor board for such forms of entertainment.
"This is a wrong step. This is an attempt to gag the freedom of speech and expression," former tiatr academy president Prince Jacob earlier said.
Tiatr is a type of musical theatre popular in the state of Goa which often have songs lampooning the local politicians.
