Taking strong exception to pro-Khalistani extremists who stormed movie theatres across UK and disrupted screening of film 'Emergency,' India on Friday said these elements should be held accountable. New Delhi also hoped the UK government would take appropriate action against the culprits.
The film, which sees actor and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut playing the role of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, focuses on 21 months of Emergency from 1975 to 1977. The film ran into controversy over allegations that it misrepresents the Sikh community. "We've also seen several reports on how the film 'Emergency', which was being screened in several halls, was being obstructed.
We consistently raise concerns with the UK government regarding incidents of violent protests and intimidation by anti-India limits. Freedom of speech and expression cannot be applied selectively, and those obstructing it must be held accountable," Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said here at a weekly press briefing.
"We hope that the UK side will take appropriate action against those responsible. Our mission is that our High Commission in London remains in touch and it is in regular communication with our community members for their safety and welfare," he added.
This strong reaction came after pro-Khalistani protesters organised protests against Ranaut's 'Emergency', disrupting the film's screening at some cinemas in the UK during its opening weekend.
Community organisation Insight UK posted a video on its social media platform, showing protesters interrupting a screening of the film, directed by Ranaut, at a cinema in Harrow in northwest London.
News agency PTI reported from London an Opposition Conservative Party Member of Parliament 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 Kangana Ranaut's film 'Emergency'.
Bob Blackman told the House of Commons that similar disruption 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. "On Sunday, many of my constituents gathered and paid for a screening of the film 'Emergency' in the Harrow Vue cinema.
At about 30 or 40 minutes into the screening of the film, masked Khalistani terrorists burst in, threatened members of the audience and forced the screening to end," Blackman said in Parliament.
"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. It covers the period when Indira Gandhi was the prime minister of India," 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".
"May we have a statement from the Home Secretary (Yvette Cooper) next week on what will be done to ensure that people who want to see such films, which have been passed by censors, can do so in peace and harmony?
I absolutely defend the right of people to demonstrate outside cinemas, but not to disrupt viewings," he added.
