Trouble for Kangana Ranaut: SGPC sends legal notice; plea in HC seeks ban on her film ‘Emergency’

Two Amritdhari (baptised) Sikhs have moved the high court alleging that the trailer depicts erroneous historical facts and it is apparent that the movie promotes “hatred towards Sikh community” and an attempt has been made to destroy the social fabric of Punjab.

“The bare perusal of the trailer…would reveal the fact that…people from Sikh Community have been shown to be firing indiscriminately at people of Hindu community due to religious discrimination, by stopping a bus…”, the petition stated.

The trailer further shows “Sant ji (Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale)” as “striking a deal…whereby he has been shown to be promising the Congress party leaders to secure votes…in the General Elections”, the petitioners have submitted, alleging that this episode is without any historical basis and is simply a “gimmick” to defame the Sikh community and its religious institutions.

The petition states the trailer “deliberately misrepresents” the character of Sikhs and creates an “anti-Sikh narrative”. Submitting that the movie has full potential to “destroy the social fabric of entire nation”, particularly Punjab, the petitioner have sought directions to the Centre and Central Board of Film Certification to cancel the certificate issued to it for release in public domain. It also seeks directions to Punjab DGP to register an FIR under BNS (Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita), 2023, and the Cinematograph Act, against Ranaut, and others associated with the film.

Earlier, in the day SGPC’s legal adviser advocate Amanbir Singh Siali, through a legal notice, asked the makers of the film to remove scenes depicting anti-Sikh sentiments. The notice also sought the withdrawal of the trailer and a written apology to the Sikh community.

Quoting a dialogue from the trailer, ‘Tohadi party nu vote chahide ne ate sanu chahida hai Khalistan (Your party need votes and what we want is Khalistan’), the SGPC said, “These are visuals in which some characters in Sikh attire are shown firing at people with assault rifles”. The notice said there is no evidence or record proving that Bhindranwale ever uttered such words to anyone, nor are there any such documented conversations in the entire history of the Sikh religion.

The SGPC notice said the film would prove a material instrument to hurt Sikh sentiments and provide a wrong lesson about Sikhism. It said the film shows “dark days” in the history of Sikhism, not only in Punjab but throughout the world.

“The portion mentioned above in the trailer is highly objectionable as it portrays the character of Sikhs in the wrong way as separatists, which is false, frivolous and truthless. Sant Jarnail Singh and no one from the Sikh community ever demanded Khalistan. It is deliberately intentional character assassination of Sikhs for creating an anti-Sikh narrative,” the notice said.

“The film…is very dangerous for the unity of the citizens, also between the different religions in the country…film is highly objectionable being derogatory towards the Sikh Community and you are…fully liable and responsible for this heinous offence of trying and creating hate towards the Sikh community,” read the legal notice added.

SGPC secretary Partap Singh said the notice was sent as per the direction of SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami. He said after the release of the trailer of the film, many anti-Sikh scenes had come to light, deeply hurting the sentiments of the Sikh community.

“An attempt has been made to show Sikhs as terrorists and separatists, which is unacceptable and far from the truth,” he said in a statement.

On August 21, the Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of the Sikhs, and SGPC had demanded an immediate ban on the film.

Partap Singh said separate letters were written to the Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting and CBFC Chairperson to ban the film.