India Seeks UK Intervention As 'Emergency' Movie Screenings Face Violent Disruptions By Khalistani Groups

The Ministry of External Affairs has sought "strong" action from the United Kingdom authorities over reports that screenings of actor Kangana Ranaut's news film Emergency are being obstructed in UK by Khalistani elements.

The movie is based on the Emergency period declared by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1975.

"We have seen reports on how the film 'Emergency', being screened in several halls, was being obstructed. We consistently raise concerns with the UK regarding incidents of violent protest and intimidation by anti-India elements... freedom of speech and expression cannot be applied selectively," MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a media briefing on Friday (24 January).

"Those obstructing it (the film screening) must be held accountable," the MEA spokesperson said.

"We hope the UK side will take appropriate action against those responsible. Our mission, that is our High Commission in London, remains in touch, in regular communication with our community members for their safety and welfare. So, we expect the UK side to take strong, appropriate action in this matter," he added.

He was referring to to reports of "masked Khalistani terrorists" who allegedly stormed a theatre in northwest London screening Emergency and issued threats to audience members.

Bob Blackman, a MP for the Conservative Party, said, "On Sunday, many of my constituents gathered and paid for a screening of 'Emergency' in the Harrow Vue cinema. After about 30 or 40 minutes, masked Khalistani terrorists burst in, threatened audience members and forced the screening to end," NDTV reported.

Similar disruptions of the film screenings were reported from Wolverhampton, Birmingham, and Manchester, prompting at least two movie theatre chains to pull the film.

According to reports, some British Sikh groups, such as the Sikh Press Association, had organised protests against what they said was an "anti-Sikh" movie, and that these had resulted in disrupted shows in the towns mentioned above.

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