Srinagar: A day after prominent filmmakers returned their awards to Government of India to protest against the alleged impediments to freedom of speech and expression in India, noted award winning filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar Thursday accused these awardees of adopting selective approach and asked them to stop disrespecting President of India and jury.

Talking to CNS on the sidelines of ‘Kashmir Moving Images Festival’ held at Tagore Hall Srinagar, Bhandarkar said that why these filmmakers did not return their awards when there were Sikh riots in Delhi. “These filmmakers were numb when there were riots in Mumbai, Bhaghalpur. India is beset with multiple problems. We should condemn the incidents like Dadri but should not disrespect President of India or Government of India that select particular people for the awards,” he said.

The Bollywood director said that there are certain filmmakers who didn’t react on important issues. “The action of these filmmakers will only tarnish the image of India. These filmmakers have got the awards for their personal performance and they should not relate them with politics,” he said.

Pertinently, 13 prominent filmmakers returned to the government various awards and honours they had received, protesting impediments to freedom of speech and expression and showing solidarity with the agitating Film and Television Institute of India  (FTII) students.

Madhur Bhandarkar is an Indian film director, script writer, and producer. He made his directorial debut with Trishakti and went on to direct several critical and commercially successful films. He has produced the films like Page 3, Corporate, Chandni Bar, Traffic Signal and Fashion.

Meanwhile, eminent Indian scientist P.M. Bhargava Thursday said he will return his Padma Bhushan award in protest against the "growing intolerance in India".

Bhargava, who was the founder-director of the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), said religious beliefs are personal choices and should not interfere in politics. (CNS)