Screening of Kangana’s Emergency cancelled amid protests by Sikh groups

The screening of Kangana Ranaut’s movie, Emergency, was cancelled at all the cinema halls across the city here today, following the protest call given by Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) president Harjinder Singh Dhami.

The Sikh organisations’ representatives gathered outside theatres and protested against the movie and said the movie hurt the religious sentiments of Sikhs and should be banned throughout the country.

Protests were held outside Pavillion Mall near the fountain chowk, Silver Arc Mall on Ferozepur road and outside some other multiplexes.

Holding placards in their hands, the protesters also raised slogans against Kangana Ranaut. Since the police administration was aware of the call given by Sikh groups, they were on high alert all day.

Due to the protest, the management of the Pavilion Mall had put up a notice outside the mall, informing residents the screening of the movie had been cancelled.

While protesting, agitators said if the movie was screened in any theatre today or on any day, they would launch a strong agitation, the responsibility of which would be on the police and owners of the multiplexes.

One of the protesters, Narinder Singh, said, “We have appealed to the owners of cinema halls to not screen this film and maintain peace. BJP MP Kangana Ranaut has deliberately tried to hurt the Sikh community through this film. The character of Sikhs has been portrayed wrongly in this film,” said Singh.

Protesters said they had already spoken up against the movie, following which a few scenes were also cut by the Censor Board, but Kangana Ranaut had been abusive to the farmers’ movement, due to which they would not let the screening of her movie take place in Punjab.

Talking to The Tribune, Lakhbir Singh Randhawa, manager of Gurdwara Alamgir Sahib, said the Sikh character presented in the movie had depicted Sikhs in a bad light. It is a total misconception about the religion. “We protest against the movie and the Sikh character, depicted in a wrong manner,” said the manager, adding that the movie should not be shown anywhere as it presented the Sikh community in a negativ e light.

Jagbir Singh Sokhi, SAD leader, whose wife is a member of SGPC, said the picture was a complete distortion of facts. Sokhi added, ”We object to this kind of movie, which presents the community negatively. The movie talks about Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindrawale and the Khalistani movement, whereas during the phase of the emergency, nothing of that sort was there. We oppose these misconceptions being spread about our Sikh community, which always reaches out to help people in need.”

The manager of MBD Cinepolis said they were given orders that the movie would not be screened. Though few advance bookings were received, their money was refunded well in time.

Meanwhile, Sukhbir, a youth, said he had come to watch the movie at the Pavilion Mall as it was being alleged that it was a distortion of facts. “But when I came here, I found a poster put up outside that said that the picture will not be shown due to objections raised by Sikh organisations,” said the youth. He also added that since the movie was controversial, many wanted to see it. “But I wish to experience it myself and will wait for it to be released on an OTT platform,” said the youth.