CHANDIGARH, Punjab (January 17, 2015)—Police and security agencies in Punjab and Haryana were put on alert Friday after protests againstSacha Sauda cult’s leader Gurmeet Ram Rahim’s movie debut “MSG – The Messenger of God”.
The movie’s profile premiere, scheduled to be held in Gurgaon on Friday was postponed until Sunday even as the sect authorities claimed they had received the formal letter of approval for release of the film. Protests against the film were witnessed at some places in Haryana and Punjab on Friday. Police officials in both states said security agencies were put on alert.
In Punjab, additional security forces were stationed in Amritsar, Bathinda, and other places. Sikh organizations and leaders, including Shiromani Akali Dal are all opposed to the sect and its leader.
Authorities in Haryana put security forces on alert in Sirsa, Gurgaon and some other places.
Police detained scores of Indian National Students’ Organization activists in Gurgaon as they were protesting against the film as well.
The producers of the Dera Sacha Sauda chief starrer “MSG – The Messenger of God” claimed that they have got the required permission from the censor board to release the movie.
Cult Sacha Sauda’s spokesman Pawan Insan stated that they received the formal letter of approval from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) Friday.
He further stated that the film premiere will be held Sunday and that the film will be released soon. MSG was earlier scheduled to be released Friday January 16th, but couldn’t be released because it failed to get CBFC approval on time.
The film had run into some trouble this week with the CBFC refusing to give it clearance for release and referring the case to the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal (FCAT). The FCAT approved the release of the film. This led to CBFC chairperson Leela Samson resigning from the post Thursday night. Sect leader Gurmeet Ram Rahim told media in Gurgaon Friday that there was nothing objectionable in the movie MSG.
He said he did not want to comment about the controversy around the censor board refusing to give clearance to the film and the resignation of Samson. “There is a move to stop the release of the film. I have no knowledge on why the censor board objected to the film,” said the sect leader. He said the film carried a message against social evils like drugs, prostitution, drugs, and promoted good causes like blood donation and doing voluntary work.