BJP demands ban on Punjabi film 'Kaum Ke Heere'

The Bharatiya Janata Party has demanded ban on Punjabi film 'Kaum Ke Heere', which is based on the assassins of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

BJP leader Lakshmi Kanta Chawla has written a letter to Home Minister Rajnath Singh, asking to stop the release of the movie, three days before its release.

Chawla, who has been a Health minister of Punjab, wrote to Singh, saying ban on 'Kaum Ke Heere' is important for maintaining peace and communal harmony in Punjab.

Punjab Youth Congress also wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi a few days ago, requesting ban on the film.

Meanwhile, in Ropar, Punjab Shiv Sena also sought a ban on the release of the film claiming that its screening could disturb communal harmony.

In a memorandum submitted to the Deputy Commissioner Rupnagar, Shiv Sena (Ropar) President Ashwani Sharma alleged that the title of the film was controversial and the contents of the film could affect the communal harmony.

He demanded from Punjab Government to impose ban on its release and threatened to hold demonstration in front of cinema halls, if the film was released.

Meanwhile, speaking to reporters, Producer of the film Pardeep Bansal said the film was based on true incidents, as per the findings of Justice Thakkar Commission (that probed the assassination of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi).

"It is a completely balanced film wherein no religion or sect has been belittled. Some people are unnecessarily trying to create a controversy from the issue without watching movie," he said.

He said Censor Board has passed the film with 'A' certificate and would be releases in more than 100 cinema halls in the state on August 22.

In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, PYC president Vikramjit Singh Chaudhary had said it was unfortunate that the movie was being allowed to be screened in Punjab and other parts of the country.

Indira Gandhi was shot dead by her two Sikh bodyguards at her official residence in New Delhi on October 31, 1984.

After months of stalling due to objections by the Censor Board, 'Kaum de Heere (Diamonds of the Community)', a Punjabi movie on the assassination, is set for release on August 22.