'Masked Khalistani terrorists': British MP slams disruptions of 'Emergency' screening in UK theatres

His action has also garnered praise from the actor-director herself, who has also slammed sections of the Indian politicians for keeping quiet regarding the issue.

Bob Blackman, a Conservative Party MP in the British Parliament, raised the issue of disruptions at UK cinemas that are screening Kangana Ranaut's film Emergency in the House of Commons and called on Home Secretary Yvette Cooper to make a statement in the House about what the government plans to do so that the British public can watch movies passed by censors without disruptions.

His action has also garnered praise from the actor-director herself, who also slammed sections of Indian politicians for keeping quiet regarding the issue.

Blackman shared his speech on social media platform X and said, "I raised the horrific intimidation of my constituents and many others, as Pro-Khalistan thugs disrupted screenings of the new "Emergency" film in cinemas. Some cinemas have even pulled the film in fear of more disruption. We must stand up to anyone trying to silence free speech."

In the speech that he has posted, Blackman can be heard calling the disrupters "masked Khalistani terrorists".

Praising him on social media, Kangana Ranaut said, "British MP raises his voice for my fundamental right of free speech meanwhile pin drop silence from Indian politicians and feminists."

India on Friday also expressed concern over certain pro-Khalistani elements disrupting the screening of the movie Emergency in the UK.

External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India hoped that those involved in disrupting the screening would be held accountable.

"We consistently raise concerns with the UK government regarding incidents of violent protest and intimidation by anti-India elements," he said.

Freedom of speech and expression cannot be applied selectively and those obstructing it must be held accountable, Jaiswal said.

We hope that the UK side will take appropriate action against those responsible, he said.

The Sikh Press Association (PA) group stated on social media (their X account has now been withheld) that the film is seen as “anti-Sikh” and the protests have resulted in cancelled screenings in Birmingham and Wolverhampton, in the West Midlands region of England.

Community organisation Insight UK posted a video on its X platform showing protesters interrupting a screening of the film, directed by Ranaut who also essays the role of former prime minister Indira Gandhi in the movie, at a cinema in Harrow, north-west London.

“Pro-Khalistan extremists storm Harrow cinema and attempt to stop the screening of ‘Emergency’,” states Insight UK.

Earlier, Sikh PA had released a statement to register the group's protest against the movie which covers the period of Emergency in India dating back to the 1970s.

“UK Sikhs are protesting at cinemas (sic) across the UK regarding today's release of the film Emergency, a biopic of former India Prime Minister Indira Gandhi considered anti-Sikh propaganda,” the group stated on X in time for the film’s release on Friday.

“The film stars and was created by Kangana Ranaut, a notorious actress/politician in India, who pushes bigoted rhetoric about the minority Sikh-Punjabi community. Indira Gandhi was the PM who initiated the #SikhGenocide before her assassination,” the Sikh PA statement adds.

(With PTI inputs)