More Evidence Sikhs Should Get Into the Arts and Film Making

Sikh groups demand ban on 'Shootout at Lokhandwala'

Press Trust Of India
Hoshiarpur, June 19, 2007

Several Sikh organisations on Monday demanded a ban on screening of Bollywood multi-starrer 'Shootout at Lokhandwala', alleging the film tarnished the image of the community by portraying them as "terrorists".

Scenes relating to Sikhs in the film had "not only tarnished the image of the community in the world but was also affecting the minds of the Sikh younger generation," Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle Media Study Centre coordinator Balwinder Singh told reporters in Hoshiarpur.

He said representatives of Dal Khalsa, Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle, Sikh Missionary College, Baba Deep Singh Sewa Society, Shubh Karman Sewa Society and Tiba Sahib Gurdwara met last night and condemned the film directed by Apoorva Lakhia for dipicting Sikhs as terrorists.

There is a flashback in the film where inspector Abhishek Mhatre (played by Abhishek Bachchan) is shot by a group of Sikh terrorists.

The organisations urged the Central government to impose a "complete ban" on the film's screening and include a person nominated by SGPC as a member of the censor board to evaluate the objectionable scenes.

They also appealed to Sikhs across the country to "bitterly oppose" the film.

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