Actress-director Kangana Ranaut’s film ‘Emergency’ could not be released in cinemas in Punjab due to opposition from Sikh organizations. Police were deployed in front of the cinemas for security reasons. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee opposed the film ‘Emergency’ in Amritsar, while farmer leaders protested in Zirakpur. Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee President Harjinder Singh Dhami had demanded a ban on the film from Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. Dhami had said that this film would not be allowed to be shown in cinemas in the state because an attempt has been made to defame Sikhs and distort facts through this film.
It should be remembered that except for the BJP, all other political parties were also opposing the release and showing of this film in cinemas.
According to the information, the state’s deputy commissioners were asked not to screen the film due to reports given by the state intelligence agency regarding the threat to the law and order situation if the film was shown, while the state government could have issued a proper order later on its own, but before that, the government wants to get complete information about the film and examine it and will also obtain proper legal opinion in this regard.
PVR in Amritsar canceled the shows of the film due to opposition from Sikh parties, while a cinema hall in Bathinda refunded the money to the audience. The film also did not show in Mohali, Patiala and Jalandhar. There were not many viewers to watch the film in Chandigarh either.
It is worth mentioning here that the Central Board of Film Certification had removed many scenes from the film ‘Emergency’ after objections from Sikh organizations.
Sikh organizations say that this film is an attempt to defame Sikhs. It should be remembered that since the farmers’ agitation in Delhi, Kangana Ranaut has given various hateful and poisonous nicknames to farmers, due to which farmers have also come out in the field against her film. It is worth mentioning that this film, which is made on the issue of the emergency imposed in the country during the tenure of late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. ‘Emergency’ was a total of 146 minutes long. The film also mentions Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, who was not on the political scene of the state during the emergency and his rise also happened after a long time. In it, a scene of about five minutes focuses on Punjab, in which Sant Bhindranwale is shown coming out of Ferozepur jail and sitting with Sanjay Gandhi at one place. There is also a scene from the Punjab riots. According to Sikh thinkers, this film has tampered with historical facts and spread hatred against the Sikh faith. Due to strong opposition from Sikh organizations and some parties in the country, this film was also given special attention by the Censor Board and some other scenes from the film, including Sant Bhindranwale, were also cut. Despite this, the opposition from the Sikhs continues. The Congress Party also opposed this film, calling it part of the BJP’s political conspiracy, because the film’s producer Kangana Ranaut is also a BJP Lok Sabha member.
Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira had demanded a ban on the film, saying that Punjab and Sikhs have been defamed in the film. He said that Kangana Ranaut is a critic of farmers and Sikhs, so the Punjab government should ban the film.
Punjab Congress President Amarinder Singh Raja Warring had said that the Censor Board and governments should keep an eye on controversial films as they hurt the communal harmony in the country.
Kangana faces difficulties in Punjab due to protests
Actress Kangana Ranaut has said that reports are coming from many cities of the state that some people are not allowing the film ‘Emergency’ to be screened. She said that art and artists are being harassed. She wrote on ‘X’, ‘I respect all religions a lot and have seen Sikhism closely after studying in Chandigarh and even after that and have followed it.’ She said that this is an attempt to tarnish my image and false propaganda is being spread.
Some of Kangana’s deadly comments during the farmers’ agitation
In 2020, Kangana was in controversy due to her statements during the year-long agitation by farmers across the country against the three agricultural laws.
*In September 2020, she wrote in a tweet about protesting farmers, “The same people who were spreading misinformation and rumors about the CAA, which led to riots, are now spreading misinformation about the Kisan Bill. Those who are spreading rumors about the Farm Bill are creating panic in the country, they are ‘terrorists’.”
*In March 2023, Kangana shared a post on social media in which Diljit Dosanjh was tagged. Kangana had said that many Punjab celebrities had ‘Khalistan virus’ and had said that the Indian government should take strict action against them.
In another post, Kangana wrote, ‘All those who support Khalistanis should remember, the police have come, this is not the time when anyone used to do anything, any attempt to betray the country or dismember it will now be costly. Serious consequences of cutting off the head from the map of India “There will be.”
