M A I N   N E W S

Sikh groups write to Censor Board
Oppose release of ‘Jo Bole So Nihal’
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 8
In a communication to Sharmila Tagore, Chairperson, Central Board of Film Certification, Sikh organisations have threatened to launch a series of protests if the board failed to impose blanket ban on the controversial film, “Jo Bole So Nihal”, proposed to be released on May 13 .

Taking up cudgels against the producer and functionaries of the Censor Board, Prof Jagmohan Singh, general secretary and spokesperson for the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar), Mr Kanwar Pal Singh, general secretary of the Dal Khalsa, and Mr Rajinder Singh, Chairman of the Khalsa Panchayat, have said they would be demonstrating at district headquarters on May 11. They propose to burn effigies of the Censor Board for failing to withhold the movie when it came up for certification.

They claimed that the Sikh bodies in Mumbai, Delhi, Bhopal and Chennai had also planned action programmes against the movie. They said Sikhs in Mumbai, under the leadership of Mr Kulwant Singh, executive committee member of Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Mumbai, are scheduled to meet Ms Sharmila Tagore tomorrow.

The film that is slated for an all-India release on May 13 has agitated the Sikhs worldwide as they were of the view that the producer has misused the holy slogan (Bole So Nihal) of the Sikh community. Getting upset with the movie, the representatives of various Sikh bodies especially the SGPC, have already taken up the issue with the producer, Rahul Rawail.

The use of holy slogans along with vulgar scenes could not be acceptable, warned Sikh leaders. Prof Jagmohan Singh has written a warning letter to the Censor Board and has

sent copies of his letter to the Information and Broadcasting Ministry, giving details of how the movie offends Sikh sentiments.

In his letter to Sharmila Tagore, Prof Jagmohan Singh has pointed out that the film is a violation of Section 5B of the Cinematograph Act, 1952.

The Sikh bodies also sought the intervention of Dr Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister, in the matter.

The Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) has also sought that the Censor Board must have members from all minority communities so that such incidents do not recur.