The Indian government has raised concerns over the disruptions in the screening of Kangana Ranaut’s Emergency in the UK by alleged Khalistan supporters earlier this week. It has sought action against the culprits, stating that freedom of speech and expression cannot be applied selectively and that those obstructing it must be held accountable.
Following protests, the Vue and Cineworld cinema chains have pulled the film out of many of their cinemas in the UK, including in Wolverhampton, Birmingham, Slough, Staines and Manchester. Meanwhile, Harrow East’s Tory MP Bob Blackman has labelled the screening disruptors as “terrorists”. On its part, the Sikh Federation UK has said that it would report Blackman to the Parliamentary Commissioner for standards for “unacceptable conduct” for describing Khalistanis objecting to the film, as terrorists and for defaming and demonising Sikhs who are “calling for the re-establishment of a Sikh homeland”.