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MUMBAI: The vexed issue over the Discovery documentary The
Lost Tomb Of Jesus as taken a dramatic turn.
Discovery India has sent a legal notice to the Catholic Secular
Forum (CSF) accusing it of spreading misleading information
to the press.
CSF secretary Joseph Dias had been quoted in reports a few
days ago stating that SCF had withdrawn its agitation over
the proposed airing of the documentary after Discovery expressed
regret that it had inadvertently hurt religious sentiments
of the Christian community. However Discovery maintains in
its notice that it did not reply to the letter that was sent
by CSF either in written or verbal form.
More importantly the channel states that it never planned
to air the documentary in the first place. It was not mentioned
either in the monthly press kit or in the quarterly programme
guide or on its site. So to say that the channel withdrew
the programme under pressure is wrong, says a Discovery spokesperson.
He says that the CSF has used the press to give the false
impression to the public that due to its protests Discovery
had decided not to air the documentary when in fact it was
an internal decision taken earlier.
Discovery is also annoyed with CSF's allegations that the
channel was looking to get publicity and commercial gain from
the documentary. Since it never planned to air the documentary
this allegation makes no sense, says the spokesperson.
In its letter to Discovery, CSF had also expressed concern
about the release of the book and DVD in the country. In response
Discovery now says that it is not producing or distributing
books or DVDs related the documentary. Therefore it cannot
be responsible legally or otherwise for any action that is
not within its control.
Also Read:
Catholic
forum forces Discovery to cancel plans to air documentary
on 'Tomb Of Jesus' in India
Discovery
to unearth 'The Lost Tomb Of Jesus'
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