As ‘Emergency’ screenings in UK are disrupted, India calls for action

“We consistently raise concerns with the UK government regarding incidents of violent protest and intimidation by anti-India elements,” he said. Freedom of speech and expression cannot be applied selectively and those obstructing it must be held accountable, Jaiswal said. “We hope that the UK side will take appropriate action against those responsible.”

Some British Sikh groups have organised protests against the film, disrupting its screenings at some cinemas in the UK since its release last Friday. The Sikh Press Association group had stated on social media that the film is seen as “anti-Sikh” and these protests resulted in cancelled screenings in Birmingham and Wolverhampton, in the West Midlands region of England. Community organisation Insight UK had posted a video on its X handle showing masked protesters interrupting a London screening of the film, directed by Ranaut who also essays the role of former prime minister Indira Gandhi.

Meanwhile, a Conservative MP has urged the UK Home Secretary to intervene after his constituents in north-west London were threatened by “masked Khalistani terrorists” who burst into a screening of the film.

Bob Blackman told the House of Commons that similar disruptions of the screenings of the “very controversial” film took place in Wolverhampton, Birmingham, Slough, Staines and Manchester. It has resulted in the Vue and Cineworld cinema chains deciding to pull the film from many theatres in the UK.

“The film is very controversial, and I am not commenting on its quality or content, but I defend the right of my constituents and other members’ constituents to be able to view it and make a decision on it,” he said.

The MP noted that there are certain views in the UK that it is an “anti-Sikh film” but asserted that his constituents should be able to judge for themselves and not be “threatened by thugs who want to disrupt democratic opportunities to see public films”.