Centre bans film on Gen Vaidya's assassins, filmmaker cries foul

CHANDIGARH: Controversial Punjabi movie 'Jinda and Sukha' based on the lives of Harjinder Singh Jinda and Sukhdev Singh Sukha, who had killed General A S Vaidya (retd) in 1986 two years after he led Operation Bluestar, has been banned by the Centre. However, the film is likely to be available for viewing for the overseas audience. In a flip flop, the Central Board for Film Certification, which had cleared the film last week, told the filmmakers on Wednesday that it will not be cleared for viewing.
Film's director Sukhjinder Shera has alleged that the release had been stopped under pressure from the home ministry. "We had even offered to make cuts in the film if the censor board had any objections. But they told us that they don't approve of the very idea itself."
"The film is about telling the people what transpired in Punjab at that time. There is a large section of Sikhs who want to watch it. It is a matter of perception and it is strange that the film's release has been stopped after the censor board approved it," he added.
The ban reportedly follows the Intelligence Bureau pointing out to the home ministry that the producers had included some shots in the movie taken during the observance of the death anniversary of Jinda and Sukha on October 9 last year at Amritsar. The film has been opposed on the grounds that it allegedly portrayed the former militants as saviours of the Sikh community.