The Akhal Takht, the highest temporal seat of the Sikhs, and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) have demanded an immediate ban on the film "Emergency," saying it tries to "character assassinate" Sikhs. In a statement 30 years after the 1984 Sikh riots, SGPC chief Harjinder Singh Dhami also asked for an FIR against Kangana Ranaut, the film's writer, director, producer, and lead actor, for provoking communal violence.
"Emergency," featuring actor-MP Ranaut as the late Mrs G, is now set for a March release after being postponed several times. The Kangana Ranaut-starrer was originally due to be released on November 24,.
Expressing strong objections, Gyani Raghbir Singh, Jathedar (head) of the Akal Takht, said that the film, as per its released excerpts, purposely projects Sikhs as separatists, which he feels is part of a deeper conspiracy. He termed the depiction as a "despicable act" that disrespects the community by "creating an anti-Sikh narrative about the martyrs of June 1984."
He said that the Sikh community can never turn a Nelson's eye towards the anti-Sikh brutality of June 1984 and accused the film to be trying to character assassinate Jarnail Singh Khalsa Bhindranwale, who has been declared a Qaumi Shaheed (community's martyr) by Sri Akal Takht Sahib.
In such a statement, Dhami said, Sikhs have been tried to be "character assassinated," which the community is not ready to tolerate. He further alleged that Ranaut has a history of making anti-Sikh, anti-Punjab statements that provoke the sentiments of Sikhs, yet rather than taking action, she has been protected by the government.
He said the Lok Sabha MP needs to be booked "for inciting religious sentiments of Sikhs for her act through the film Emergency." Mr Dhami warned that the film could "cause a lot of anger and resentment in the Sikh community."
He further added there have been several such instances in the past as well, and the feelings of Sikhs had been hurt because Sikh characters had become the victim of mis-representation and the religious feelings were bypassed in the films. Dhami demanded the Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting to ban the coming film of "Emergency" immediately and also ensure that in the future, no such film is released if it has content capable of hurting Sikh feelings.
The SGPC president also sought Sikh representation in the CBFC, saying that the "absence of a Sikh member is prejudiced." He said for many years the SGPC had been passing resolutions in general meetings to this effect, but the government had never paid heed to the demand.
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