Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Tuesday said that the State Government's decision to ban the screening of controversial film ‘MSG: Messenger of God’ was taken in “larger public interest” and could be reviewed once the law and order situation normalises.
“The ban is not permanent in nature, rather it could be reviewed as the situation gradually normalises. We are not against any particular sect, but at the same time we were equally duty bound to maintain the law and order across the State,” said Badal while addressing media persons on the sidelines of his special visit to monitor progress of ongoing school for meritorious students and other projects in and around Bathinda.
Badal had on Monday said that the screening of the movie had been banned on the advisory of the Union Government, claiming that reports of intelligence agencies of both the State and Central Governments had clearly stated that the release of this movie could have led to serious repercussions in terms of law and order problem in the State.
On the issue of sacking of Damdama Sahib takht jathedar (head priest) Balwant Singh Nandgarh, the CM said that he was not even remotely connected with this issue as the appointment and removal of any Jathedar of Takht was exclusively within the domain of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee.
Dera mgmt: not in hurry to release film
Chandigarh: Following the controversy over Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda Chief’s film ‘Messenger of God’(MSG), Dera management on Tuesday said it was in no hurry to release the movie and a decision would be taken after January 27.
“We are busy in promotion of the film and are in no hurry about its release”, said Dr Pawan Insaan, spokesperson of Dera Sacha Sauda. “We are busy in film’s promotion and have covered Uttar Pradesh and other States and now covering Maharashtra and Goa”, said the dera spokesperson.
He added that the movie would also be promoted in south India and the release date would be decided in a convention to be held at Sirsa.