Amritsar, Punjab April 9, 2015: After issuing stern warning to the producer of the controversial movie ‘Nanak Shah Fakir’ and submitting memorandum to Jathedar Akal Takht to issue edict against the producer for withdrawal of the film, the Dal Khalsa today shot off a letter to Sukhbir Singh Badal, president of the Shiromani Akali Dal urging him not to allow the movie to be released.
As the organization is of considered view that it was he (Sukhbir) who calls the shot whether its religious or political affairs of the Sikhs, we had decided to take up the matter with him, said party head Harcharnjit Singh Dhami.
He expressed displeasure over the manner jathedar of Akal Takhat and SGPC head had been passing the buck to each other and shirking away from taking the “bull by its horns”. “It’s the Sukhbir who is de facto head of SGPC and Akal Takht, hence he should break his silence and clarify his position as chief of Sikh political party- the Akali Dal.
Party spokesperson Kanwar Pal Singh in his letter to him has stated that “we have been made to understand that you and your wife Harsimrat Kaur Badal has seen the movie and approved the same, he said and added that even if you have approved it at earlier stage, now it’s time to rethink and not allow the movie to be released as it has the potential to undermine the fundamental beliefs of Sikhism and open the floodgates for others to portray Guru Sahib and their family members in whatever way they like”, ,.
Reasserting that the said movie was an assault on the fundamental tenets of the Sikh religion, he further said as the Sikhs were worshippers of Shabad-Guru, they cannot allow denigration of their religion in pictorial or other forms.
Contesting the claims of the film-maker Harinder Singh Sikka, he said even the depiction/personification of Guru Sahib through animation was unacceptable and intolerable. “Just as the Islamic world does not tolerate the portrayal of founder of Islam- Hazrat Mohammad Sahib, similarly portrayal of Guru Sahiban is blasphemy”.
The letter further asks Sukhbir to take the initiative and stop the release of the movie or allow the situation to deteriorate as the agitated Sikhs will take to the streets.
He however clarified to Sukhbir that his letter was not politically motivated rather it was meant to express concern and share the larger interests of the Sikh community.