Hindutva activists in Baindur near Udipi in Karnataka have created mayhem against the installation of a statue of legendary actor Charlie Chaplin saying he is Christian and that it would hurt Hindu sentiments.

The statue was being put up by Karnataka film director Hemant Hegde for the shoot of his movie `Housefull‘ and was meant for a song sequence. On Friday, local BJP leader Suresh Batwadi stopped the film unit from going ahead with the project, claiming that the land on which the statue was to be erected belonged to the Someshwara temple and the crew lacked the requisite permissions.

Hegde said he had obtained all the clearances and had discussed the shoot with the officials. “I had apprised the gram panchayat and the Udupi deputy commissioner. The BJP activists questioned me as to why I was not installing Vivekananda’s statue,” he said. He said he planned to shift the shoot elsewhere.

According to the police,” As the location is near a temple, the local people are against installing a Chaplin statue and instead want one of Vivekananda. We will wait for the deputy commissioner’s opinion and take suitable action based on that,”

Artists and Actors of Karnataka have come out in strong terms against this latest cultural fascism.

In the last year, episodes of communal intolerance have been shameful events for Karnataka. It’s not only because Chaplin’s statue is being opposed, it’s because these elements are unconstitutional. The constitution allows you the freedom to express your religion. Then how can these extra-constitutional bodies take over?” asked Girish Kasaravalli, noted Kannada film-maker.

Added Jayamala, actress and president of the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce, “How can anyone discriminate against an artist on the basis of religion or caste? Chaplin belongs to all.”

Rajeev Gowda, IIM-B professor and Congress politician, said, “These people must be crazy. Chaplin was an artiste who made movies against dictatorship, against the oppression of workers. He united workers and doesn’t belong only to the West.”

Director Hemant Hegde, fearing further trouble and vandalism, has decided to seek other sites now. He has gone to Uttara Kannada and is considering Om beach at Gokarna, or perhaps Karwar, as alternate locations. He has not approached the police, fearing that frequent trips to the police station and the courts would upset his shooting schedule