As demands to ban Kangana Ranaut’s film ‘Emergency’ grow, police deployed in large numbers outside Amritsar’s PVR Suraj Chanda Tara Cinema as Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) decides to protest against the film produced by BJP MP.
The film is releasing on January 17 and has invited strong opposition from SGPC, where the committee has demanded that the film be banned in Punjab. SGPC president Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami has written a letter to Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann saying the film is "politically motivated with an aim to defame Sikh community".
"In a letter to Chief Secretary of the Punjab Government, it was clearly stated that 'Emergency' film will not be allowed to be shown in Punjab, as it remains politically motivated with the aim to defame Sikhs," the letter read.
In a video posted by the committee’s handle on X, SGPC chief Dhami said that they have given a demand letter to Amritsar Deputy Commissioner, asking him to stop the release of the film that “incorrectly” Sikh characters.
"The role of Sikh characters, especially Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, in this film has been portrayed incorrectly. It always happens that the government often play with the emotions of Sikhs. This is why, we had registered objections earlier before the government to not release the film. However, with the release of the film scheduled in Punjab, we have submitted a letter to DC requesting him to stop the release,"
In the video, a woman member of SGPC says, "After the trailer of the film was released, many registered their objections that history was being presented wrongly and it can hurt sentiments of the Sikhs. However, this film is still being released. SGPC submitted a letter to DC (Amritsar). Meanwhile, SPGC chief Harjinder Singh Dhami has written a letter to Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann, demanding that the film should not be released in Punjab at least."
The letter says if the film is released SGPC will protest, she added.
Rekha Sharma, a cinema hall guard in Amritsar said, "I am not sure about the reasons, but the screening of this film (Emergency) will not take place here (at the cinema hall)."
