Several organisations,led by Shiv Sena and Bajrang Dal,protested against the alleged derogatory references to Hindu deities in the Akshay Kumar-Paresh Rawal film Oh My God! and stopped it from being screened in major cities in Punjab,even as it was released worldwide on Friday. Punjab Pradesh Mahila Congress activists,led by vice-president Nimisha Mehta she had earlier filed a case with Jalandhar police against Kumar,Rawal,films producer,director and writer for hurting religious sentiments - also joined the protests. Some cinema halls owners,fearing backlash,chose not to screen the film,which depicts the journey of an atheist turning into a believer. The film could not be screened at Patiala,Jalandhar,Ludhiana,Amritsar,Nawanshahr,Bathinda and Hoshiarpur. Sources said that Punjab Police had invited representatives of Hindu organisations for a preview screening,but later cancelled it. The police later verbally indicated to the government that it should first clear the film. A committee can see the film and suggest cuts or changes if any,before it is allowed to be screened, a senior officer said. Meanwhile,Nimisha Mehta said that the police have assured us that the film would not be screened in the city before the controversial scenes are removed. In her earlier complaint,Mehta had alleged that the film insults Hindu gods. I will also take up the matter with the members of the Censor Board that cleared the film, Mehta added. However,the film was released by Ginni Arts in Eastern Punjab circuit and the distributors claimed that no objections were raised to its screening. In rest of the circuit,which covers Haryana,Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh,no protest was reported, a representative of Ginni Arts said,adding,We are waiting for the clearance from police. We are working to find amicable solution of the deadlock and hopefully,the matter will be resolved very soon, a senior police officer said.
