Soon after the right-wing outfit Hindu Mahasabha threatened to hold demonstrations demanding a ban on Aamir Khan-starrer PK film for hurting religious sentiments of the majority community, Matterden cinema hall in Mumbai (earlier known as Deepak Talkies) cancelled the screening of the movie.
The film, which earned Rs 214 crore in the first nine days after its release on December 19, has sparked protests by Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Bajrang Dal, Hindu Janajagruti Samiti and All India India Mahasabha while police complaints have been filed in several parts of country alleging that it mocked Hindu gods and its contents were "highly provocative".
Yoga guru Ramdev has also demanded that the movie should be boycotted and all those associated with it "ostracised" from society.
"Some scenes in PK film humiliate Hindus and are an awful jibe at the community. They are also an insult to Hindu gods like Lord Shiva," Narendra Sharma, Haryana in-charge of Hindu Mahasabha said in a statement.
Also read: Aamir Khan's PK in legal turmoil, FIR filed against makers for allegedly hurting religious sentiments
"When they talk about Hinduism, they show whatever comes to their mind without giving it even a single thought, why not talk about other religions too?," he said.
The outfit also lashed out at the Censor Board for clearing the scenes.
It demanded that a case be lodged against Aamir for "insulting" Hindu religion and threatened to lodge protests if the film is not banned.
Similar protests and vandalism prevailed in New Delhi after the release of the film.
New Delhi: Members of an organisation try to destroy the posters of newly released film `PK` during their protest, at a cinema hall in New Delhi on Sunday - PTI
Also read: 'PK' controversy: Aamir Khan defends the film, clarifies their treatment is 'sensitive' and not 'sensational'
While the right wing leaders lashed out at Aamir insinuating that he "insulted" Hindu religion because he was a Muslim, the actor has said, "We respect all religions. All my Hindu friends have seen the film and they have not felt the same".
"Even Raju (Hirani) is Hindu, so is Vinod (Chopra) and so is Abhijat (Joshi). In fact 99 per cent of the crew was Hindu. No one would have done such a thing," the actor said, referring to the director, producer and the scriptwriter of the film.
Swami Chakrapani of Hindu Mahasbha alleged that the film's depiction of 'gow mata', Hindu deities like Lord Shiva is an "insult of Sanatan Dharm".
(With inputs from agency)
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 "Bajrang Dal activists shouts slogan during their protest against newly released film `PK` in Mumbai on Sunday")
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