Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh
The screening of the controversial movie "MSG" featuring Dera Sachch Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in lead role was today stopped at several cinema halls in West Delhi following protests by Shiromani Akali Dali (Badal) activists and some other groups.
Protestors also burnt the effigy and posters of Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, demanding a ban on the screening of MSG, the debut movie of the Dera chief.
Police have beefed up security outside cinema halls where the movie is to be screened, especially in west Delhi having several Sikh-dominated areas.
Raja Garden, Subhash Nagar, Vikaspuri were among the areas where screening of MSG were stopped for several hours after the protests.
Apart from West Delhi, security was also beefed up outside other cinema halls screening MSG across the national capital.
Sources in the police said that owners cinema threatres situated in west Delhi have told them that they would not screen the movie till the situation is normal.
Hundreds of Sikhs, led by Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Committee (DSGMC) president Manjit Singh GK gathered for protest near a movie theatre in Raja Garden and thereafter, the screening of the film had to be stopped for more than four hours.
According to police, during protests, supporters of Dera Sachcha Sauda and SAD (Badal) came face to face which triggered a law and order problem in the area.
When senior police officials intervened, protestors called off their protest outside the cinema halls.
"Security has been beefed up outside all cinema halls where this movie is to be screened. Police are also taking precautionary steps to maintain law and order in the area," DCP (west) Pushpendra Kumar said.
Police also detained some protestors who were, however, later released.
The protestors carried a placard - "How can anyone who hurt the religious sentiments be a messenger of God?"
Protestors also threatened that if cinema owners allow screening of MSG, they would be responsible for any untoward incident.
"We will not allow screening of the movie hurting the religious sentiments," DSGMC general secretary Manjinder Singh Sirsa said, adding that the protest would continue until the movie is banned.
He praised Punjab government for imposing a ban on the movie in the state.
Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal also said that "we have to take care of law and order situation."
"I don't want to run into this controversy. This is not my work. My work is to maintain law and order. Anything that disturbs law and order...we have to take steps." Mr Badal told reporters in New Delhi.