Heavy police bandobast outside cinema hall in Amristar; SGPC gears up to protest against Kangana Ranaut's film 'Emergency'

NEW DELHI: Amid calls to ban Kangana Ranaut's film 'Emergency', heavy police deployment was observed on Friday outside the PVR Suraj Chanda Tara Cinema in Amritsar, Punjab, following protests by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC).

The film, which is to be released today, drew sharp opposition from the SGPC, which had demanded a ban on its screening in Punjab.


SGPC president advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami had accused the film of being "politically motivated with an aim to defame Sikh community" in a letter to Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann.

The SGPC also wrote to the chief secretary of Punjab, asserting that "Emergency will not be allowed to be shown in Punjab" due to its alleged portrayal of Sikh characters in a defamatory manner.

In a video shared by the SGPC on X, Dhami stated that a demand letter had been submitted to the Deputy Commissioner of Amritsar, urging a halt to the film's release, which allegedly "incorrectly" depicted Sikh figures.


"The role of Sikh characters, especially Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, in this film has been portrayed incorrectly. It always happens that the government often play with the emotions of Sikhs. This is why we had registered objections earlier before the government to not release the film. However, with the release of the film scheduled in Punjab, we have submitted a letter to DC requesting him to stop the release," he had said.

A woman member of the SGPC had added, "After the trailer of the film was released, many registered their objections that history was being presented wrongly and it can hurt sentiments of the Sikhs. However, this film is still being released. SGPC submitted a letter to DC (Amritsar). Meanwhile, SGPC chief Harjinder Singh Dhami has written a letter to Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann, demanding that the film should not be released in Punjab at least." She had further noted that the SGPC would stage protests if the film was released.

Additionally, Rekha Sharma, a guard at a cinema hall in Amritsar, had told ANI, "I am not sure about the reasons, but the screening of this film (Emergency) will not take place here (at the cinema hall)."