#RamRahimVerdict: Films and TV association BAN the rapist's membership

The Indian Film and Television Directors' Association (IFTDA) on Saturday cancelled the membership of rapist Dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh and his "adopted daughter" Honeypreet Kaur, with the Cine and TV Artists Association (CINTAA) following suit.

They have barred the two from making any movies in future.

Actor Sushant Singh, general secretary of CINTAA, told IANS: "We have cancelled his (Ram Rahim's) work permit. It's the committee's decision. He has committed a crime. Depending on the heinous nature of the crime, we had the power to cancel his membership. Considering that, he is not worthy of our membership."

Asked of they have cancelled Honeypreet's membership too, he said, "She was not our member. Only he was. Now his membership is cancelled for lifetime."

Earlier IFTDA too cancelled their membership.

"Ram Rahim cannot work in the Indian film and television industry anymore. His membership has been cancelled by the IFTDA. The decision was taken yesterday (Friday) evening," IFTDA president Ashoke Pandit told IANS over phone from Mumbai on Saturday.

Pandit said the Indian Motion Pictures Producers Association (IMPAA) is contemplating terminating Ram Rahim's membership too from Monday.

"We are organisations of creative and dignified people. We can't have a goon or criminal amongst us. The law has taken a hard stand on him, and considering how many people died in Haryana due to his manipulation.." Pandit, who is also the vice president of IMPAA, said while explaining the reason for Ram Rahim's ouster from IFTDA.

Ram Rahim was sentenced to 20 years' rigorous imprisonment by a CBI special court on August 28 for the rape of two female disciples.

The Dera chief set out on a film career with the 2015 film MSG: The Messenger, following it up with MSG-2 The Messenger and MSG: The Warrior Lion Heart, Hind Ka Napak Ko Jawab: MSG Lion Heart 2 and Jattu Engineer, all of which he claimed to have written and directed. He acted in the films too.

Honeypreet, whom the Dera website describes as his daughter (not real daughter), also co-directed some of these projects and acted opposite him.

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