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Protest in Punjab and Haryana over release of Dera Sacha Sauda chief's movie

Strap: Central Board of Film Certification Leela Samson resigns citing interference I&B Ministry

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Sikhs during a protest against the impending release of MSG in New Delhi; (Above) CBFC chief Leela Samson
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A movie not mainstream Bollywood, nor helmed by major stars, nor part of the Rs100crore club, has resulted not only in the resignation of the Central Board for Film Certification chief Leela Samson but also protests across Haryana and Punjab by political factions seeking to protect sentiments of Sikhs from a self-styled godman-cum-superhero. Sixty protesters from INLD and INSO, on Friday, were arrested when they gathered at Leisure Valley Ground, Gurgaon, to protest the planned screening of Messenger of God, starring Dera Sacha Sauda Chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Insan.

The Om Prakash Chautala-led INLD, reportedly, has been angry with Singh, not just for his silver screen capers, but for supporting the BJP in Haryana's recent Assembly election. Apparently Chautala blames Singh for INLD's loss of votes. INLD also protested in Ambala, Haryana, along with the Shiromani Akali Dal and the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee. In Amritsar, the Rapid Action Force had to put a stop to a protest march by the Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee. There were protests also in Hisar district of Haryana.

Singh has directed, written the screenplay and lyrics, and the album 'Love Charger' has gone viral on social media. In the movie, he is said to have portrayed himself as divine worker of miracles and epic destroyer of celluloid villains, angering various Sikh factions for trying be god on screen, and putting off Leela Samson who refused to clear the film saying it promoted superstition and blind faith.

However, the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal overturned Samson decision in 24 hours. Following Samson's resignation on Thursday, CBFC member, Ira Bhaskar, professor of cinema studies at JNU, has said that she and other members will also resign and issue a joint statement. Samson has cited interference from and corruption in the I&B Ministry as her main reason for leaving, saying that the Board was not allowed to meet and function for a year because of lack of funds. She has called the FCAT decision a "mockery of the Board". The Ministry has since denied any interference on their part, asking Samson for proof. Samson says her term was over months ago, she stayed on till the Ministry found someone else. "If her views are not respected then why shouldn't she resign?" says Bhaskar. "By staying on she was trying to be responsible. She has clearly been pushed to this situation."

Friday afternoon saw large number of Singh's supporters turn out at the massive grounds at Leisure Valley, west of the IFFCO chowk Metro station in Gurgaon. Clearly not sharing Samson's taste in movies, they were lining up since 10 am to watch MSG, only to be told by Singh who arrived for a press conference in a Lexus, that the movie could not be screened. Sporting a designer T-shirt, Singh proposed to sing bhajans. The faithful, which reports say were 2 lakh in number, agreed, eager for his blessings. From his flashy ostentatious throne on the dias, the baba led his people in prayer.

Meanwhile, Haryana and Punjab are on high alert and the country's censor board a few member's short. All because of an unlikely one-man movie that some see as a heroic endeavour of creativity and others as an exercise in vanity.

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