Shahi Imam demands case against Sonam Bajwa for shooting at mosque

Punjab’s Shahi Imam, Maulana Mohammad Usman Rahmani Ludhianvi, has demanded strict police action against Punjabi actress Sonam Bajwa, the director and the team of the film Pit Syaapa, as well as the department concerned, for allegedly hurting religious sentiments by shooting inside the historic Bhagat Sadhna Mosque at Sirhind in Fatehgarh Sahib district.

The Imam said that filming inside any mosque was prohibited and described the incident as “deeply unfortunate”. He emphasised that the Bhagat Sadhna Mosque was of immense historical and spiritual importance. “This mosque was built in the name of Bhagat Sadhna, who is revered with great devotion by both Sikh and Muslim communities. His hymns are enshrined in the Guru Granth Sahib. To shoot here is shocking and a violation of its sanctity,” he stated.

Calling for immediate police intervention, the Shahi Imam urged that cases be registered and arrests made. “The purity of the mosque has been disturbed, and faith has been played with. This cannot be ignored. The police must act without delay,” he said.

He further criticised the trend of filmmakers prioritising profit over social responsibility. “Earlier, films carried messages of reform and upliftment. Today, filmmakers are more focused on money than values. If the heroine and producers had been sensible, they would never have chosen a mosque for shooting,” he said.

The Imam also called for legislation to prevent such incidents in the future, noting that repeated violations of religious sentiments were “regrettable and unacceptable”.

Community leaders including Ahrar vice-president Saif Ali, Nazim Ali of Sirhind, and Harmesh Kumar joined the Shahi Imam in registering their protest against the shooting.