New Delhi18 minutes ago
- copy link
External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal addressing the press briefing on Friday.
India has expressed displeasure over Khalistanis entering the cinema and protesting during the screening of Kangana Ranaut’s film ‘Emergency’ in Britain. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on Friday that freedom of speech cannot be stopped. Those who obstruct this should be held accountable.
Spokesperson Jaiswal said- We have seen many reports about how the film is being disrupted. We continue to express concern to the British Government about incidents of violent protests and threats by anti-India elements. We hope that the British government will take action against those responsible.
In fact, last Sunday, during the screening of the film ‘Emergency’ in some cinema halls of Britain, some Khalistani people wearing masks came into the cinema hall and stopped the screening of the film. This happened in many theaters after which the screening of this film was stopped.
Khalistan supporters entering cinema halls in Britain, threatening and shouting Khalistani slogans.
British MP called Khalistanis goons This issue was also raised in the British Parliament on Thursday. British MP Bob Blackman called it a violation of the rights of the people of Britain and called Khalistanis goons and terrorists.
Blackman said-
I and some of my friends spent some money and went to watch the movie ‘Emergency’ at Harrow View Cinema. About 30-40 minutes after the film started, Khalistani terrorists wearing masks came inside and started threatening the audience and security forces to stop the screening of the film. Similar incidents were also seen in Wolverhampton, Birmingham, Slough, Staines and Manchester.
Blackman said in Parliament that some people should not be allowed to bully and disrupt democratic rights.
Blackman said that this is a controversial film and I will not comment on its content. But I am talking about the rights of the people of my constituency and other people to form their opinion after watching the film.
The British MP said that the film is based on the time when Indira Gandhi was the Prime Minister of India. However, it is also being seen as an anti-Sikh film. Still, I want to say that people should have the right to watch this film and decide for themselves.
Some people should not be allowed to bully and disrupt democratic rights. I hope that the government will take appropriate steps for the safety of the people coming to watch this film by next week. I respect the right to peaceful protest outside theatres, but coming inside and threatening is absolutely wrong.
Shows were stopped in Punjab also Kangana Ranaut’s film Emergency was released last Friday. On the very first day, Sikh organizations in Punjab came out against it. Members of Sikh organizations protested with black flags outside theaters in Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Patiala and Mohali.
The film was not shown in any theater in the state. This film was to be shown in 70 to 80 theaters of PVR Group, after the protests the film was not shown in these theatres. Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) accused the film of tampering with historical facts and hurting the sentiments of the Sikh community. Only after this, on Friday, Sikh organizations demonstrated outside PVR Cinema.
SGPC had written a letter to CM Mann SGPC Secretary Pratap Singh had said- A letter was sent to the Government of India and the Punjab Government regarding not releasing Kangana’s film Emergency in Punjab. But the governments did not do anything like this. SGPC chief Harjinder Singh Dhami had written a letter to Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann demanding that the film not be shown in theatres.
SGPC Secretary Pratap Singh said that our community has made sacrifices for the country. But Sikhs have been shown wrong in this film. This may spoil the atmosphere of Punjab.
Kangana said oppression of art Angered by the halting of the film’s screening, Kangana wrote on X – ‘This is complete oppression of art and artist. There are reports coming from many cities of Punjab that these people are not allowing the emergency to continue. I respect all religions. Having studied and grown up in Chandigarh, I have closely observed and followed Sikhism. This is sheer lies and propaganda to tarnish my image and harm my film Emergency.
SGPC objects to some scenes of the film The film depicts the events of the Emergency imposed during 1975-77 when Indira Gandhi was the PM. In particular, it shows the atrocities against Sikhs, army action on the Golden Temple and other incidents. SGPC claims that the film has misrepresented these incidents.
No statement from Punjab government
No official statement has come yet from the Punjab government on this issue. However, Aam Aadmi Party state president Aman Verma said that no work will be allowed to harm the peace and tranquility of Punjab. The decision to ban the film has to be taken by the Chief Minister.
Controversy started after the first trailer
Apart from Sarabjit Singh, the independent MP from Faridkot, SGPC, the supreme body of Sikhs, was the first to express objection to this film. Earlier this film was scheduled to release on 6 September 2024, but after protests it did not get clearance from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).
Sarabjit Singh Khalsa, son of Beant Singh, her security guard who assassinated former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi five months ago and independent MP from Faridkot, had objected to the scenes shown in the trailer. He had said that reports of Sikhs being portrayed in a wrong way in the film Emergency are coming out, due to which there is a possibility of worsening of peace and law and order situation in the society.
If Sikhs are shown as separatists or terrorists in this film then it is a deep conspiracy. Sarabjit had said that this film is a psychological attack, on which the government should pay attention in advance and stop inciting hatred towards Sikhs in other countries.
Censor Board made three cuts and 10 changes in the film
- The Censor Board had asked to show facts on the controversial statements shown during the Emergency. CBFC had said that the makers will have to present the sources of the derogatory remarks made by former US President Richard Milhous Nixon towards Indian women and the statements of former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill that Indians breed like rabbits.
- The Censor Board had sent a list of 10 changes to Manikarnika Films Private Limited. Most of these scenes were those on which objections were raised by Sikh organizations.
- In a scene of the film, Pakistani soldiers are shown attacking Bangladeshi refugees. In this he is shown attacking children and women. CBFC had also expressed its objection to this scene. The board had asked the makers to change this scene from the film or delete it completely.