Manoj Muntashir urges Sikhs to support Kangana Ranaut. Emergency: Did Indira Gandhi die in an accident?

Writer and lyricist Manoj Muntashir posted a video on social media urging the Sikh community to support Kangana Ranaut's 'Emergency'. His statement comes days after the film failed to get a censor certificate despite several petitions from the Sikh community representatives against its content. In the video, which was also shared by Kangana on her Instagram, Manoj questioned those who claim that the film twists the facts. He asked if Indira Gandhi, the former Prime Minister of India, died in a road accident and was not assassinated.

The famous poet added that Gandhi's killers were her Sikh bodyguards named Satwant Singh and Beant Singh. He asked whether the film should not identify these killers as Sikhs.

Part of what Manoj says in the video is: “The problem is that Indira Gandhi has no problem. Toh kya Indira ji ki mrityu hurt me, right? Kya unka assassination nahi hua tha? The problem is that Indira Gandhi is a Sikh. Toh Satwan Singh and Beant Singh Sikh Nahi [The problem is that the film shows the brutal killing of Indira Gandhi. Should the film show that she had died in an accident instead? Wasn’t she assassinated? The problem is that the assasins of Indira Gandhi have been shown as Sikhs. Were Satwant Singh and Beant Singh not Sikhs]?”

“Wasn’t Bhindranwale a terrorist?”

The author also mentioned Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, a militant considered one of the leaders of the Khalistan movement, who was killed during Gandhi's Blue Star operation in Amritsar, Punjab. He added: “The problem is that Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale has solved the problem. Toh kya hazaaro nirdoshon ki berehmi se hatya karne vala vo darda aatankwadi nahi tha [The problem is that the film shows Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale as a terrorist. So, do we believe that he who took several innocent lives was not a terrorist]?”

Manoj further urged the Sikh community not to allow a few ‘frightened’ people to label Bhindrawale as a ‘hero.’Sikhon ki shinakht Jarnail Singh Bhindrawale se ki jayegi? Koi apne hosho-awaaz me inko hero kaise maan sakta hai?he said in the video.

The author appealed to the bravery of Sikhs and urged them to watch the film before raising any objections to its content. He said the community is known for its fearlessness and for the sacrifices of many. Guruand they should be the ones to represent them. Manoj shared that he could not believe that the brave Sikh community was afraid of the release of a film.Sikhon ne kabhi offering card nahi khela. Bharat se kabhi dushmani nahi ki. Aisi veer jaati ek film se darr jaye, ye manne se main inkaar karta hoon [Sikhs have never played a victim card. They have never antagonised India. I refuse to believe that such a brave community would fear a mere film]” he explained.

Watch Manoj Muntashir’s full video on the release delay of Emergency here:

He claimed that the pressure being put on the Censor Board for Film Certificate (CBFC) to prevent the release of the film is purely political in nature. Manoj mentioned the right to freedom of expression and speech in his video and urged the protesters to let the film hit the theatres first.

The film, which Kangana directed and also produced, sees her play the role of Indira Gandhi. It also stars Shreyas Talpade, Anupam Kher, Milind Soman and the late Satish Kaushik. A new release date has not been announced yet, but Kangana has said she is not afraid to take legal action against the delay.