On 17th January, Bollywood actress and BJP MP from Himachal's Mandi Kangana Ranaut's film Emergency has released in cinemas. Following this, the Sikh organizations have come out in protest against it. Crowds of Sikh organizations have gathered outside cinemas in Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana and Mohali. Currently, the film is not being shown anywhere as all the shows have been stopped.
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has accused the film of distorting facts and hurting the sentiments of the Sikh community.
SGPC chief Harjinder Singh Dhami wrote a letter to Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann on Thursday regarding this film. He had demanded that Emergency movie should be banned in Punjab. Dhami had said that the way the Sikh community and their struggle during the Emergency of 1975 has been shown in the film, does not match historical facts. It misrepresents the image of Sikhs.
Dhami also alleged that the film shows Sikhs in negative roles, ignoring their sacrifices and historical contributions. He has appealed to the government to respect the sentiments of the Sikh community and stop the film from releasing in Punjab.
Additionally, the letters have been also sent to all Deputy Commissioners in Punjab requesting them to take necessary steps regarding the matter.
Previously, Congress MP Charanjit Singh Channi had asserted that Kangana Ranaut's film Emergency should not be released without prior approval from the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC).
He emphasised that the SGPC, as the representative body of the Sikh community, must first review and approve the film's portrayal of Sikh history.
"Kangana Ranaut's film should accurately depict Sikh history, and the SGPC should have the final say. Without their permission, the film will neither be released nor allowed to be released," he stated.