Will CBFC ban Kangana's 'Emergency' due to intense political pressure
The Delhi unit of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has reportedly requested the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to halt the release of Bollywood actor and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut's upcoming period film Emergency. The party claims that the movie, which features Ranaut as former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, could potentially ignite communal unrest and disseminate false information. The film is scheduled for release on September 6.
'Emergency' misrepresents Sikh community, promotes hatred: SAD
In a letter to the CBFC on Wednesday, Paramjit Singh Sarna, the Delhi President of SAD, expressed concerns over the film's trailer. He stated that it "depicts erroneous historical facts that not only misrepresent the Sikh community but also promote hatred and social discord." He further emphasized that such portrayals are not only misleading but also deeply offensive and damaging to the social fabric of Punjab and the entire nation.
SAD urged CBFC to prevent the film's release
Sarna urged the censor board to use its authority to prevent the film's release, given its potential to incite communal tensions and spread misinformation. He stressed the importance of distinguishing between the right to freedom of speech and the propagation of hateful content that threatens societal harmony. He said that a "thick line must be drawn between the right to freedom of speech and the propagation of hateful content that threatens the harmony of our society."
SGPC sent legal notice to 'Emergency' producers
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has also sent a legal notice to the producers of Emergency, including Ranaut, for allegedly misrepresenting the character and history of Sikhs. The notice, issued by Advocate Amanbir Singh Siali, the SGPC's legal advisor, demanded the removal of the film's trailer from public and social media platforms and a written apology from Ranaut and the film's makers to the Sikh community.
SGPC threatened legal action if anti-Sikh scenes were not removed
SGPC Secretary Partap Singh has written separate letters to the Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting and the CBFC Chairperson, urging them to ban Emergency. He warned that if the film's objectionable anti-Sikh scenes are not removed, legal action will be taken. The legal notice also highlighted a specific dialogue in the trailer that allegedly portrays Sikhs as separatists, which is untrue and baseless.
