6 June,(IMI)An opinion poll commissioned by Outlook magazine to gauge the public opion in Gujrat shows 58% are against the boycott of Amir. The survey was carried out by research organisation Cfore between May 27 and 30 in nine cities, reveals that Aamir has the right to express his opinion, and that most Gujaratis want to see Fanaa.

The poll covered nearly a thousand respondents, of whom 44 per cent were female and 14 per cent Muslim. Of them:
· 66% said they wanted to see Fanaa
· 68% said Aamir had a right to express his opinion
· 58% said the boycott of Aamir was not justified
· 52% thought Narendra Modi was behind the boycott
· 51% said the previous boycott of Aamir-starrer Rang de Basanti was wrong

The poll results also reflect a sharp divergence of views between Hindus and Muslims in polarised Gujarat. For example, 48% of Hindus say Aamir should apologise while 96% of Muslims say he should not; 97% of Muslims condemn the boycott, while only 52% of Hindus are against it; and 86% of Muslims feel Aamir has been targeted to widen the communal divide, but only 36% of Hindus share that view.

The BJP Yuva Morcha's Amit Thaker, meanwhile, shies away from explaining why BJP activists won't permit the film's release if, as they claim, 'patriotic' Gujaratis will shun it. Perhaps because patriotic Gujaratis are not shunning Fanaa at all. The state is flooded with pirated CDs of the film and it's doing roaring business. Being snapped up for two-and-a-half times the standard pirated CD price of Rs 40, Fanaa has been declared a blackmarket hit in Gujarat!

Source: Outlook