India ‘concerned’ with elements from Khalistan disrupting screening of ‘Emergency’ in UK

India on Friday expressed concern over some Khalistani elements disrupting the screening of the film “Emergency” in the UK.
External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India hoped those involved in disrupting the screening would be held accountable.
“We continue to raise concerns with the UK government about incidents of violent protests and intimidation by anti-India elements,” he said.
Freedom of speech and expression cannot be selectively enforced and those disrupting it must be held accountable, Mr Jaiswal said.
We hope that appropriate action will be taken against those responsible from the UK side.
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UK MP condemns ’emergency’ film screening disruption
Earlier, an opposition Conservative Party member of Parliament had urged the UK Home Secretary to intervene after his constituents in north-west London were threatened by “masked Khalistani terrorists”, who were filming Kangana Ranaut’s film. Had burst into tears at the screening of ‘Emergency’.
Bob Blackman told the House of Commons that similar disruptions at screenings of the “very controversial” film occurred in Wolverhampton, Birmingham, Slough, Staines and Manchester. This has resulted in the Vue and Cineworld cinema chains deciding to pull the film from many cinemas in the UK.
“On Sunday, many of my constituents gathered and paid for the screening of the film ‘Emergency’ at the Harrow Vue Cinema. About 30 or 40 minutes into the screening of the film, masked Khalistani terrorists burst in, threatening audience members and forcing the screening to end,” Mr 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 see it and make judgments on it. It covers the period when Indira Gandhi was the Prime Minister of India,” he said.
The MP said there are some views in Britain that it is an “anti-Sikh film”, but added that his constituents should be able to judge for themselves and “not be threatened by thugs who threaten the public with watching films”. want to disrupt democratic opportunities for
“Can we have a statement from the Home Secretary (Yvette Cooper) next week on what will be done to ensure that people who want to watch films that have been passed by the censors can do so in peace and harmony? Can do? I defend the right of people to demonstrate outside theatres, but not to disrupt viewing,” he said.
Commons leader Lucy Powell responded on behalf of the Labor Party government, saying that Mr Blackman had “raised a very important case about the relationship between free speech and the right to protest peacefully”.
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“The ability for people to go about their activities freely to do whatever they choose to do, whether it’s watching a movie, is, as he says, agreed upon by the censors and all the people who Let’s look at those issues. I will certainly ensure that he and the whole house get an update on the very important matters that he raises,” Ms Powell said.
Some British Sikh groups have organized protests against ‘Emergency’, disrupting its screening in some cinemas in the UK since its release last Friday. The Sikh Press Association group said on social media that the film was seen as “anti-Sikh” and that screenings in Birmingham and Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region of England were canceled as a result of these protests.
Community organization Insight UK had posted a video on its X platform showing masked protesters disrupting a London screening of the film, which is directed by Ranaut, who also essays the role of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
published – January 24, 2025 06:02 PM IST
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