Amritsar, May 15
Bowing to the pressure of Sikh organisations, the director and producer of the controversial film, ‘ Jo Bole So Nihal’ today agreed in principle to accept all recommendations of the 15-member SGPC panel regarding removal of objectionable scenes from the movie.
The panel is likely to submit its report by May 19.
It is reliably learnt that Rahul Rawail, Director of the film, has conveyed his willingness to accept the recommendations of the panel to Bibi Jagir Kaur, SGPC chief, on telephone today. Mr Himanshu Seth, Public Relations Officer to the Director, told TNS that the producer had no intention to hurt the sentiments of the Sikh community. He said the film was released only after getting a clean chit from Akal Takht. Mr Manmohan Singh, General Manager, Ginnies Arts, the main distributor of the film, said the director and producer of the film were open to suggestions.
It is learnt that the director has agreed to change the title of the film even. According to sources, Mr Parmjit Singh Sarna , president, Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, played a significant role to convince the Director and film distributor in this regard.
Meanwhile, the Sikh conclave held at Akal Takht here today, served a five-day ultimatum to stop the screening of controversial film. A resolution passed on the occasion announced that Sikh jathas would march towards the cinema halls to stop the screening of the film on Friday (20 May) in Ludhiana, Sunday (22 May) in Amritsar and Tuesday (May 24) in Jalandhar.
Interestingly, Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, Jathedar, Akal Takht, was not in the city as he had gone to New Delhi to attend some program.
The Sikh conclave also sought ‘sacking’ of Mr Charnjit Singh Chadha as president, Chief Khalsa Diwan, for allegedly ensuring a ‘clean chit’ to the controversial film through Jathedar, Akal Takht. However, Mr Chadha has denied this.
Earlier, there was little flutter during the conclave when a senior member of the Khalra Mission Committee wanted immediate ‘disowning’ of Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti as Jathedar Akal Takht.
The five Sikh bodies Khalsa Panchayat , Dal Khalsa , Khalra Mission Committee ,Sikh Students Federation (Bittu) and Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) resolved to physically stop the screening of the controversial film in case the Punjab government did not do so by Thursday.
Mr Rajinder Singh, chairman of the Khalsa Panchayat, and Mr Kanwarpal Singh , general secretary, Dal Khalsa, asked the government to withdraw the cases registered against Sikh youths for demonstrating against the film in various parts of the state.
Prominent amongst those who present included Bhai Ram Singh, Daya Singh Khakar, Anoop Singh Sandhu,Jagir Singh Wadala, all SAD (A) leaders, Dr Daljit Singh of Dal Khalsa, Mr Charanjit Singh Channi of Khalsa Panchayat, Mr Jaspal Singh Manjpur and Mr Prabsharanbir Singh from Sikh Students Federation (Bittu).
