Apprehending serious law and order problem in the State following the release of controversial film MSG: Messenger of God, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Monday said that the screening of the movie has been banned on the advisory of the Union Government. “The screening of this movie has been banned on the advisory of the Government of India (GoI),” said Badal while interacting with the media persons on the sidelines of the Sangat Darshan programme of lambi Assembly segment in Muktsar district.
He said that the reports of intelligence agencies of both the State and Central Governments had clearly said that the release of this movie could have led to serious repercussions in terms of law and order problem in the State. Reiterating the State Government’s firm commitment to maintain peace and amity, he said that it was their onerous duty to sustain the hard-earned peace in Punjab at every cost.
“We have received advisory from the Central Government to ban this movie and, thus, the State Government acted accordingly in the larger public interest,” added Badal. Punjab Government on 17 January had put a ban on MSG featuring Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh, in apprehension of breach of peace. High alerts have been sounded in Punjab and Haryana after protests were staged against the proposed release of the movie. Political parties including SAD and INlD, and several Sikh outfits had taken to the streets in Haryana, Punjab and Delhi protesting against the controversial film.
Similar protests were held at Haryana's Hissar and Sirsa, the headquarters of the Dera chief who has been at loggerheads with the Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of Sikhs. The film, which was expected to hit theatres on Friday last, had been referred by the Censor Board to FCAT for clearance on 12 January. FCAT has cleared it for screening. Controversy over the clearance deepened after the resignation of its chairperson leela Samson and several other members.