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Amritsar, After issuing stern warning to the producer of the controversial movie ‘Nanak Shah Fakir’ and submitting memorandum to Jathedar Akal Takht Giani Gurbachan Singh for its withdrawal, the Dal Khalsa today shot off a letter to Sukhbir Singh Badal in his capacity as the president of the Shiromani Akali Dal seeking his intervention.
Party chief Harcharanjit Singh Dhami said as the organization was of considered view that it was Sukhbir who called the shot whether in the religio-political domain of the Sikhs, it had been decided to take up the matter with him.
He expressed displeasure over the manner Akal Takht Jathedar and SGPC Presidemt Avtar Singh Makkar had been passing the buck to each other and shying away from taking the “bull by its horns”. “It’s the Sukhbir who is de facto head of SGPC and Akal Takht, hence he should break his silence and clarify his position as chief of Sikh political party- the Akali Dal”, he added.
Party spokesperson Kanwar Pal Singh in his letter to him has stated that “we have been made to understand that you and your wife Harsimrat Kaur Badal has seen themovie and approved the same. Even if you have approved it at earlier stage, now it’s time to rethink and not allow the movie to be released as it has the potential to undermine the fundamental beliefs of Sikhism and open the floodgates for others to portray Guru Sahib and their family members in whatever way they like”.
Reasserting that the said movie was an assault on the fundamental tenets of the Sikh religion, he said as the Sikhs were worshippers of Shabad-Guru, they would not allow denigration of their religion in pictorial or other forms.
Contesting the claims of the film-maker Harinder Singh Sikka, he said even the depiction of Guru Sahibs through animation was unacceptable and intolerable. “Just as the Islamic world does not tolerate the portrayal of founder of Islam- Hazrat Mohammad, similarly portrayal of Guru Sahiban is blasphemy”.
The letter called upon Sukhbir to take the initiative and stop the release of the movieor allow the situation to deteriorate as the agitated Sikhs might take to the streets.
He however clarified to Sukhbir that his letter was not politically motivated rather it was meant to express concern and share the larger interests of the Sikh community.
