SGPC Issues Legal Notice to ‘Emergency’ Makers Over Kangana Ranaut’s Film for Alleged Misrepresentation of Sikh History
The upcoming film “Emergency,” directed and starring Kangana Ranaut, has ignited controversy ahead of its release. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), the leading authority overseeing historical Gurdwaras, has issued a legal notice to the film’s producers, including Ranaut, alleging that the movie misrepresents Sikh history and features scenes that have deeply offended the Sikh community.
In its legal notice, the SGPC demands the immediate removal of the objectionable scenes from “Emergency” and calls for a formal apology from the filmmakers to the Sikh community. Additionally, the SGPC insists that the film’s trailer, released on August 14, be removed from all public and social media platforms.
SGPC Secretary Partap Singh expressed strong condemnation regarding the film’s depiction of Sikhs, stating, “The movie trailer reveals several anti-Sikh scenes that have profoundly hurt the sentiments of the Sikh community. It attempts to portray Sikhs as terrorists and separatists, which is both unacceptable and far from the truth.”
The SGPC’s notice raises serious concerns about the film’s distortion of historical facts and its potential to perpetuate negative stereotypes about Sikhs. Singh further warned that if the filmmakers do not comply with the demands to eliminate the offensive content, the SGPC will take legal action against them.
Compounding the issue, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, seeking to revoke the certification granted to “Emergency” for public release. The PIL argues that the film threatens social harmony in Punjab and could incite communal tensions.
Petitioners assert that “Emergency” vilifies the Sikh community by depicting them in a negative light, which could have serious repercussions for Punjab’s already delicate social fabric. The PIL urges the court to intervene, preventing the film’s release until the objectionable content is removed and a public apology is issued by the filmmakers.
“Emergency,” a political drama focused on the events surrounding India’s 1975 Emergency, has generated significant discussion since its announcement. Currently, neither Kangana Ranaut nor the other producers have publicly addressed the SGPC’s legal notice or the PIL filed in court.
