Bollywood actor and BJP MP from Mandi, Himachal, Kangana Ranaut’s film Emergency was opposed by Khalistani supporters in the UK. During the screening of the film, Khalistani supporters entered the theater and started raising slogans against India.
Khalistani supporters tried to stop the screening of the film. This created a tense atmosphere in the cinema hall. After which the people present there opposed them and they had to leave from there.
On the other hand, this film is also being opposed in Punjab. On January 17, Sikh organizations demonstrated outside the cinema halls. This film was to be shown at 70 to 80 theaters of PVR Group, after the protest, the film was not shown at these theaters.
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has accused the film of tarnishing the image of Sikhs and misrepresenting history.
SGPC had written a letter to CM to ban the film in Punjab
About 4 days ago, SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami had written a letter to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to ban the film. He had written in the letter that ‘Emergency’ should be banned in Punjab. The way Sikhs and their struggle during the Emergency of 1975 have been shown in the film does not match history and is creating a wrong image of Sikhs.
Dhami alleges that the sacrifice and contribution of Sikhs in the film has been ignored. They have been shown negatively. Respecting the sentiments of the Sikhs, the release of the film should be stopped in Punjab.’ He had said that if this film is released, it will create resentment and anger in the Sikh community.
SGPC objects to these scenes of the film
The film shows the events of the Emergency imposed during 1975-77 when Indira Gandhi was the PM. Especially it shows the atrocities against the Sikhs, the army action on the Golden Temple and other incidents. SGPC claims that these events have been presented in a wrong manner in the film.
Law student has sent notice to Kangana
A legal notice has been sent to Kangana by Safal Harpreet Singh, a law student from Punjab, demanding an apology from the entire Punjab and Sikh community. He said that if she does not respond to the legal notice, then he will resort to law in this matter.
Kangana has said – harassment of art and artist
After the protest against the film in Punjab, Kangana posted on X (former Twitter). She wrote – ‘This is completely harassment of art and artist. I respect all religions. After studying and growing up in Chandigarh, I have closely observed and followed Sikhism. This is a blatant lie and propaganda to tarnish my image and harm my film Emergency.’
This is how the controversy started…
The censor board had earlier stopped the certificate
Apart from Sarabjit Singh, independent MP from Faridkot, SGPC was the first to object to this film. Earlier this film was going to be released on 6 September 2024, but after the protest, it did not get clearance from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).
5 months ago, Sarabjit Singh Khalsa, son of Beant Singh, the security guard who assassinated former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, and independent MP from Faridkot, had objected to the scenes shown in the trailer. He had said that reports of misrepresentation of Sikhs in the film Emergency are coming out, due to which there is a possibility of deterioration 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.
The film has been released after changes
The censor board had asked to show facts on the controversial statements shown in Emergency. CBFC had said that the makers will have to present the source of the derogatory remarks made by former US President Richard Milhous Nixon against Indian women and former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s statement that Indians breed like rabbits.
The censor board had sent a list of 10 changes to Manikarnika Films Pvt Ltd. Most of these scenes were those which were objected to by Sikh organizations.
In a scene of the film, Pakistani soldiers are shown attacking Bangladeshi refugees. In this, they are shown attacking children and women. CBFC had objected to this scene as well. The board had asked the makers to change this scene from the film or delete it completely.
