New Delhi: Pro-Khalistani protesters have been staging protests against Kangana Ranaut’s ‘Emergency’ in the UK since the release of the film last weekend.
Screenings of ‘Emergency’ have been disrupted at some cinemas in the UK during its opening weekend.
Reacting to reports of incidents of pro-Khalistani extremists storming movie theatres showing ‘Emergency’ across the, India has voiced concern and made its stand known in no uncertain terms.
Asserting that freedom of speech and expression can’t be applied selectively, India hoped that the Keir Starmer-helmed government would take appropriate action against the culprits.
“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 on Friday.
“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.
The political drama, which sees actor and
BJP MP Kangana, who has played Indira Gandhi in the political drama which focuses on 21 months of Emergency from 1975 to 1977, courted controversy over allegations that it misrepresents the Sikh community.
Insight UK posted a video on X showing protesters interrupting a screening of the film at a cinema in Harrow, in northwest London.
Kangana on Friday shared a video on social media where British MP Bob Blackman spoke in support of ‘Emergency’ and defended its right to be screened.
“Now, this is a very controversial film. I don’t want to comment on the content or the quality of the film, but I do defend the right of others to be able to view the film,” Blackman said in the video.
Blackman further said that “masked Khalistani terrorists” disrupted the screenings across the UK which forced cinema owners to take down the movie.
