SGPC leads protests, blocks screening of Kangana’s ‘Emergency’ in Punjab

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and other Sikh organisations today staged protests outside cinemas across Punjab and blocked the screening of Kangana Ranaut-starrer “Emergency” for allegedly portraying Sikhs in a negative light. The actor and BJP’s Mandi MP termed the call for a ban on the film “complete harassment of art and the artist”.

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The movie explores the tumultuous period of the Emergency in India, declared by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1975.

The SGPC alleged that the film had a wrong plot and depicted Sikhs as extremists and anti-nationalists. The role of Sikhs, portrayed through Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, in the movie was factually incorrect, it contended.

District administrations are learnt to have coordinated with cinema managements and convinced them against screening the film to avoid any untoward incident. Cinemas in Ludhiana, Amritsar, Patiala, Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur and Bathinda did not screen the movie. Police force was deployed outside malls and cinemas in the state.

Propaganda to tarnish image

I have utmost respect for all religions… I have closely followed Sikh religion. This is a complete lie and propaganda to tarnish my image and harm my film. —Kangana Ranaut, Actor & BJP MP

In Amritsar, SGPC chief secretary Kulwant Singh Mannan, secretary Partap Singh and members Bhagwant Singh Sialka and Ajaib Singh Abhyasi led protests at PVR Cinema (Sooraj Chanda Tara), Trillium Mall and Alpha One Mall.

In Ludhiana, protests were held outside Pavillion Mall, near Fountain Chowk, Silver Arc mall on the Ferozepur road and other multiplexes. In the wake of the protests, the management of Pavillion Mall put up a notice outside its premises, saying “Emergency movie screening has been cancelled”.

Cinema halls in Jalandhar decided against screening the film following a warning from the Sikh Talmel Committee. Its members led by Harpal S Chadha said they had met Police Commissioner Swapan Sharma yesterday and demanded that the screening be halted as it threatened communal harmony.

SGPC executive member Surjit Singh Garhi led a protest against the Mandi MP outside PVR Cinema in Patiala. The district administration had coordinated with the cinema management, convincing them not to screen the movie. SGPC member Jasmer Singh condemned the censor board for not removing scenes allegedly portraying Sikhs in a poor light.

At a similar protest in Muktsar, Shiromani Akali Dal leader Jagjit Singh Honey Fattanwala said: “We will not allow any screening of Kangana’s movies till she apologises to the state farmers and Akal Takht.”

Leader of the Opposition Partap Bajwa sought a ban on the movie not only in Punjab but also across the country, saying: “It distorts historical facts and promotes a biased narrative aimed at creating a divide and hatred among communities.”