Chandigarh (Punjab) [India]: Amid rising demands to ban Kangana Ranaut’s film Emergency, heavy police deployment has been arranged outside the PVR Suraj Chanda Tara Cinema in Amritsar, Punjab. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has announced protests against the film, which is produced by BJP MP Kangana Ranaut.
The film, released today, has sparked significant backlash, with SGPC accusing it of being “politically motivated” and “defaming the Sikh community.” SGPC president Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami addressed Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann in a formal letter, urging the state government to ban the film.
“In a letter to the Chief Secretary of the Punjab Government, it was clearly stated that the film Emergency will not be allowed to screen in Punjab due to its politically motivated content aimed at defaming Sikhs,” the SGPC stated.
In a video shared by the SGPC on X, Dhami elaborated on their concerns, asserting that the film portrays Sikh characters, particularly Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, inaccurately. “It often happens that governments play with Sikh emotions. Despite our earlier objections, the film is still being released. We have submitted a formal request to the Deputy Commissioner of Amritsar to halt its release,” Dhami remarked.
A female SGPC member echoed these sentiments, emphasizing that the trailer itself had drawn significant objections for allegedly misrepresenting history and potentially hurting Sikh sentiments. She reiterated that SGPC Chief Dhami had also written to Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann to ensure the film’s release is stopped in Punjab.
“If the film is released, we will organize protests,” the SGPC member warned.
Meanwhile, Rekha Sharma, a security guard at the cinema hall in Amritsar, told ANI, “I am not sure about the exact reasons, but the screening of this film (Emergency) will not take place here at the cinema hall.”