Former SAD minister Maheshinder Grewal slams ‘Emergency’ movie for distorting history

Former minister and member of the Shiromani Akali Dal’s (SAD) core committee, Maheshinder Singh Grewal, criticised the movie “Emergency” for inaccurately portraying historical events and misrepresenting the Sikh community. He urged the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to thoroughly review the film’s historical accuracy before its release.

At a press conference here today, Grewal pointed out discrepancies in the movie’s trailers, specifically a scene depicting Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale speaking with a Congress leader. Grewal noted that the emergency was imposed in 1975, while Bhindranwale emerged on the political scene in 1978.

Grewal emphasised the significance of accurate representation, stating that cinema’s influence can lead people to assume false information as true. He alleged that the movie contradicts the patriotic sentiments of Sikhs, portraying them in a negative light.

The former minister recalled the nationwide opposition to Indira Gandhi’s emergency, with SAD leading the movement in Punjab. Thousands of Akali workers, along with other national leaders like Jai Prakash Narayan, LK Advani, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and George Fernandes, were imprisoned.

Grewal questioned whether the film’s portrayal implied that these leaders demanded Khalistan. He hopes the Censor Board will ensure the movie does not distort historical facts.