Why Sikh Bodies Opposed Kangana Ranaut’s *Emergency*

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, the supreme body of Sikh religious institutions, has issued a legal notice to the producers of the film. They stated that the movie misrepresents the Sikh identity along with the historical facts. Just a week after the trailer released for the film last month, then, Akal Takht and SGPC asked for an immediate ban on the movie. As per a PTI report, the SGPC secretary has said they have written to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the CBFC, seeking a ban on the film. The trailer had “anti-Sikh” scenes and this has “deeply hurt the sentiments of the Sikh community”, he said.

Sikh community about Emergency

Gurcharan Singh Grewal, the SGPC general secretary told news agency ANI that it is good for the Censor Board that the film has stopped releasing. “The matter does not only pertain to Sikhs, but it also involves harmony in the country.” Some sources in the government stated that certain religious organizations had raised opposition owing to the film. “Religious sentiments cannot be injured. There is some sensitive content in the movie,” a source said, adding that the Centre was seriously looking at the concerns.

Emergency got certificate

The Zee Entertainment Enterprises which co-produced the film has moved the Bombay High Court seeking a direction to the CBFC to issue the clearance certificate to ‘Emergency’. The matter is being heard in the court. The petition has alleged that the Censor Board is “illegally and arbitrarily” withholding certification for the film. The court was told by the Censor Board that the certificate had been issued but is on hold right now.