Citing reports of tensions surrounding its release in some other parts of the country, the Punjab government on Saturday decided to “stop with immediate effect” the screening of the film Messenger of God, featuring the Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda chief, Baba Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh. The government has avoided using the term “ban,” the decision prohibits all forms of exhibition and viewing of the film, including at cinema houses.
While the apex temporal authority of the Sikh community, the Akal Takhat, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and various Sikh organisations have demanded a ban on the screening of the film, a State government release said that the decision to “stop” the film had been taken in the larger and crucial interest of preserving peace, social harmony and safeguarding age-old emotional bonds among people professing different faiths.
The release explained that the government’s decision followed reports of strong reactions and protests evoked by a promotional trailer of the movie. It felt the reactions against screening of the movie could “spill over posing a serious threat of violence in Punjab” as advisories issued by Central agencies also sought necessary steps to prevent any breach of peace, untoward incident, adverse fall out or any other law and order problem. “The government cannot allow the chain of actions and reactions to pose a threat to peace and social harmony of the State. The Government is bound by a sacred duty to pre-empt and prevent any such eventuality and ensure that the hard earned atmosphere of peace and social harmony in the State is preserved at all costs,” the release went on to detail.
Baba Gurmit Ram Rahim was excommunicated by the Akal Takhat for indulging in blasphemous acts of imitating the attire and actions of Guru Gobind Singh. The apex Sikh clerics had also directed the community to severe all ties with the followers of the Dera, who are known as “Premi.” They had also called upon the believers of the Sikh Panth not to allow congregations of the Dera followers, which are called “Naam Charcha.” In 2007, Punjab and areas of Haryana saw major incidents of the violence as members of Sikh organisations clashed with the Dera followers.
