Agitation stops PK show again

Bajrang Dal activists on Wednesday forced a cinema hall in east Delhi to cancel a show of Aamir Khan’s PK as they protested against the screening of the film for “hurting the sentiments of Hindus”.

They also blocked a busy road near the Gagan cinema in Nand Nagri for a few minutes before the cinema hall owners assured them that they would not screen it. The cinema authorities, however, said they resumed the screening after cancelling the morning show.

Scores of Bajrang Dal and Hindu Sena activists on Tuesday had staged similar protests outside Delite Cinema in central Delhi’s Daryaganj. They had damaged the cinema hall property before police detained them.

“We are receiving support from police. Some men have been deployed outside our cinema hall to ensure there is no damage,” said Rakesh, deputy manager of the cinema, told Deccan Herald.

There was vandalism of the cinema property in Wednesday’s protest. But protesters burnt Aamir Khan effigies and PK posters they had brought along, waved flags and shouted slogans. They also blocked the Sunder Nagri Road nearby for a few minutes.

“The cinema hall owner assured us that they would not screen the film after which we called off our protest,” Neeraj Doneria, Delhi state convener of the Bajrang Dal, said.

He threatened that more protests would be held in front of Gagan Cinema if they screened the film. But Rakesh said they resumed the screening at 3.20 pm.

“We were yet to sell tickets when the protesters arrived at 11.30 am. Hence we did not open the counter for the morning show. The film is being screened as per its schedule now,” he said in the evening.

The Bajrang Dal, meanwhile, said they will continue their protests till some scenes in the film are altered. “Protests are scheduled for Rohini and Kamla Nagar tomorrow,” said Doneria.