SGPC may cross swords with Censor Board over Guru Gobind Singh film

According to Sidhu, among the content highlighted as "objectionable" by the Censor Board, is the main character saying "raj karega Khalsa" and another dialogue based on Guru Gobind Singh's famous tenet where he advocates the use of weapons when all peaceful means of redressing a wrong stand fails.

Sidhu added that the Censor Board has objected on a dialogue where a character says — "Sikh religion is yet not considered and respected as independent religion and hence is treated as part of other religion".

"The board has raised objections on 20 scenes and dialogues and placed a blanket ban on its release saying it is not fit for release," Sidhu said.

When contacted, SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar said: "Raj karega Khalsa is a slogan given by our Guru. Who is the Censor Board to object to this? After watching the film, we will take up the matter with the Censor Board."

Claiming that the SGPC had repeatedly written to the government to give representation to SGPC in the Censor Board while deciding about films focusing on the Sikh community, Makkar said: "But the government always turned down the requests saying religion cannot be mixed with the Censor Board."

The film, which according to Sidhu is based on "militancy period" in Punjab, was slated to be released on October 26. "The film was shown to the Censor Board on October 16 and 25. They decided to forward the same to review committee, which saw the film on November 14 and 21. The board conveyed its objections on 20 scenes and dialogues putting a blanket ban on its release," Sidhu said.

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