Parallel jathedars issue ‘edict’ against ‘Nanak Shah Fakir’

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, April 8

Parallel jathedars on Sunday passed an “edict”, directing immediate stopping of the release of controversial biopic “Nanak Shah Fakir”.

Sarbat Khalsa-appointed jathedars Baljit Singh Daduwal and Dhian Singh Mand announced the “edict” after paying obeisance at the Golden Temple.

They asked the SGPC to find ways to prevent the release of the movie as it “brazenly violates the religious philosophy and Sikh maryada (code of conduct)”.

Mand said no person could play the role of Sikh Gurus, their families and prominent Sikh personalities of the Gurus’ period. He said though some changes were made in the movie, the voiceover of Guru Nanak was done by a person, which was also in contravention of the Sikh religion.

He called upon the SGPC to constitute a censor board of Sikh intellectuals to watch and clear any movie related to the Sikhs and their religion.

Daduwal said despite repeated warnings film director Harinder Singh Sikka was adamant on releasing the movie. He demanded a ban on the biopic.

The parallel jathedars sought legal action against Sikka. They said the release of the movie would hurt religious sentiments of the Sikh community all over the world.

They said a conclave of several Sikh organisations would be held at Takht Damdama Sahib on Baisakhi to discuss such matters, besides Behbal Kalan firing incident and release of political prisoners.