Chandigarh: With controversial film MSG: The Messenger featuring Dera Sachcha Sauda Chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh set to release today, security arrangements at theatres which will screen it have been tightene
Prohibitory orders were issued by authorities in various districts of Haryana to prevent any untoward incident as Sikh organisations in Haryana and Chandigarh are opposing the release of the film. Police and para-military forces have been stationed at several places across Haryana and Chandigarh.
The Punjab government banned the release of the film in Punjab last month itself. After being denied a release certificate by the censor board last month, the film was given this last week. It is scheduled to be released in over 4,000 screens across India Friday.
Haryana Police officers said here Thursday that the situation was being closely monitored in various parts of the state, especially in Sirsa, Kurukshetra, Gurgaon, Rohtak, Ambala and other districts.
While the Dera Sacha Sauda sect headquarters are located near Sirsa town, 250 km from here, Kurukshetra and some other places house a substantial Sikh population.
In Chandigarh, security has been tightened around the malls, where the film will be released today.
Sikh leaders submitted a memorandum to the Chandigarh Administration Thursday seeking a ban on the release of the film. They said that the administration would be responsible if anything untoward happened.
The controversial movie was earlier called ‘MSG’ (Messenger of God). It was to be released Jan 16 but it did not get clearance from the censor board. Various groups had protested against its release at that point in time as well.
The sect leader, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, who plays the protagonist in the film, is its director, singer and lyricist, and has been aggressively promoting the film countrywide. The sect claims that the movie is not against any religion or group and was only highlighting social evils.
Bureau Report
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