2 min readLudhianaSep 22, 2015 02:56 AM IST
First published on: Sep 22, 2015 at 02:56 AM IST
RAIL and road traffic returned to normal in Punjab on Monday after followers of the Dera Sacha Sauda called off their protests late on Sunday night. They claimed Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal had assured them that he would get MSG-2 screened in theatres across the state within the next three to four days.
While there is no official ban on the movie, featuring dera head Gurmeet Ram Rahim, theatres in Punjab have not been screening it. Dera member Harinder Insaan said the followers will now wait for the next three of four days before deciding on their next course of action. The state government has, however, maintains that it is an issue between theatre owners and the movie distributor.
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“Our stand is the same as it was on day one. We have clarified that it is an issue between the theatre owners and the movie distributors. We had no role to play as there is no ban from our side. Over 150 movies are released in Bathinda every month, so we cannot intervene between distributors and theatre owners regarding screening of movies,” said the Bathinda deputy commissioner Basant Garg.
There was, however, huge relief for commuters, particularly train passengers, at the protest being called off. Over 60 trains had been cancelled during the duration of the stir, which began on Friday afternoon.
The railways has apprehended revenue loss in crores for the two-and-a-half day disruption.
Lukewarm opening in Haryana While followers of the Dera Sacha Sauda are protesting the non-screening of MSG-2 in Punjab’s theatres, the movie has been receiving a luke-warm response Haryana’s Dabwali region, which borders Punjab.
The movie had been released on Friday. Sources said that against the capacity of 1500 seats in three shows in one of the theatres of Dabwali, not more than 400 had seen the movie. “The dera followers could have seen the movie by going to Dabwali. At least the dera followers of Malaut and Bathinda could have gone as it is very close,” said a Muktsar resident.
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