As the controversial movie, Nanak Shah Fakir, managed to clear all legal hurdles for all-India release, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) is all set to launch a massive protest on the day of movie release.
Besides, the Akal Takht — Sikhs’ highest temporal seat — on Thursday excommunicated the makers of the movie from the Sikh community.
The Shiromani Akali Dal-led SGPC and also the Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee (DSGMC) had moved the Supreme Court and the Delhi High Court respectively to stall the release of the movie which is set to hit theatres across the nation, except Punjab, on Friday. However, the plea of urgent hearing of the case by the Sikh bodies was rejected by the respective courts, but listed the matter for the next week.
SGPC, as a mark of protest, decided to close down all its institutions on April 13. “All institutions, being run by the SGPC, will remain closed on April 13 as a mark of protest against the release of controversial movie Nanak Shah Fakir,” announced the SGPC chief Gobind Singh Longowal.
He said that the SGPC was duty bound to comply with the directive of the Sikh clergy on the issue while appealing the Sikhs to observe a peaceful protest against the movie.
Besides, the SGPC has also asked all the Sikhs to wear black turbans on April 13 as a mark of protest.
Meanwhile, the five high priests at Akal Takht Secretariat has decided to excommunicate the film director Harinder Singh Sikka.
Pronouncing the decision, Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh said that despite repeated warnings, Sikka was adamant to release the movie that has caused widespread outrage, and thus, it was decided to boycott Sikka socially from all spheres.
He appealed to the Sikh community to stage protest if the film is released, “but in a peaceful manner”.
Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh also issued a cautionary note for the cinema hall owners that they would be only responsible for any loss to their property.
The clergy has also decided that the members of SGPC's earlier sub-committee, which had endorsed the film in 2016, too would be summoned at the Akal Takht.
SGPC chief secretary Dr Roop Singh has also tendered an apology through social media for granting permission to the film maintaining that it was a blunder on his part to issue such a letter and was apologetic to the Sikh community for this.