India Slams Obstructions At ‘Emergency’ Screening In UK: ‘Freedom Of Speech And Expression Can’t Be Applied Selectively’

British MP Bob Blackman had alleged before the UK Parliament that ‘masked Khalistani terrorists’ threatened his constituents and disrupted screenings of Kangana Ranaut starrer film ‘Emergency’.

India on Friday said that it hopes the UK government will take appropriate action against those responsible in obstructing screenings of the film ‘Emergency’ there. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal remarked that freedom of speech and expression cannot be applied selectively as he urged UK to hold those obstructing it accountable.

This comes as a British Member of Parliament alleged “masked Khalistani terrorists” threatened his constituents and disrupted a screening of Kangana Ranaut starrer film ‘Emergency’ there. He urged the UK Home Secretary to intervene in the matter as he raised the issue in the Parliament.

MEA has also expressed concern over the rise in incidents of “violent protest and intimidation” by anti-India elements in the UK.

“We have also seen several reports on how the film, ‘Emergency’, which was being screened in several halls was being obstructed. We consistently raise concerns with the UK Government regarding incidents of violent protest and intimidation by anti-India elements, freedom of speech and expression cannot be applied selectively and those obstructing it must be held accountable,” Jaiswal said.

“We hope that the UK side will take appropriate action against those responsible. Our High Commission in London remains in touch in regular communication with our community members for the safety and benefits,” the MEA spokesperson added.

‘The Film Is Very Controversial’, Says British MP

Conservative Party MP Bob Blackman told the House of Commons that similar disruption of the screenings of the “very controversial” film took place in Wolverhampton, Birmingham, Slough, Staines and Manchester, news agency PTI reported.

“On Sunday, many of my constituents gathered and paid for a screening of the film ‘Emergency’ in the Harrow Vue cinema. At about 30 or 40 minutes into the screening of the film, masked Khalistani terrorists burst in, threatened members of the audience and forced the screening to end,” Blackman said in Parliament.

“The film is very controversial, and I am not commenting on its quality or content, but I defend the right of my constituents and other members’ constituents to be able to view it and make a decision on it. It covers the period when Indira Gandhi was the prime minister of India,” he said.

The MP further said that there are certain views in the UK the film is “anti-Sikh”, but asserted that his constituents should judge for themselves, and not be “threatened by thugs” disrupting democratic opportunities to watch public films, the report said.

“May we have a statement from the Home Secretary (Yvette Cooper) next week on what will be done to ensure that people who want to see such films, which have been passed by censors, can do so in peace and harmony? I absolutely defend the right of people to demonstrate outside cinemas, but not to disrupt viewings,” he added.

Following this, Leader of the Commons Lucy Powell, while responding on behalf of the Labour Party government, said that Blackman had raised an important matter about the relationship between the right to protest peacefully and free speech.

‘Emergency’ sparked a row in India as well as the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) chief Harjinder Singh Dhami demanded Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann to ban the film. Several Sikh organisations held protests against the movie outside cinemas and malls across Punjab, accusing it of being “politically motivated with an aim to defame Sikh community”. As a result, most cinemas in Amritsar, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Patiala, Bathinda, and Hoshiarpur did not screen the movie.