Punjab bans screening of ‘Santa Banta Pvt Ltd’
Chandigarh, April 23
Punjab has banned the screening of 'Santa Banta Private Limited' in the state with immediate effect for portraying the Sikh community in a "denigrating" manner.
The decision was taken this evening after a delegation of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Managing Committee (DSGMC), led by its president Manjit Singh GK, called on Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal and apprised him of the issue.
The delegation, which included Manjinder Sirsa, Avtar Hit, Onkar Thapar, Kuldeep Singh Bhogal and Harmanjeet Singh, said the film had hurt the sentiments of the Sikh community.
After a patient hearing and a feedback from various quarters, the Deputy CM instructed the Chief Secretary to ban the screening of the movie with immediate effect.
The controversial movie was released on April 22. The Bombay High Court had refused to grant an interim stay on the release on a petition filed by Charan Singh Sapra, president, Punjabi Cultural Heritage Board, Mumbai, who said the film was “indecent, obscene and defamatory to the Sikh community”.
