New Delhi: The controversy surrounding Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh’s film ‘Messenger of God’ is getting murkier by the day.
The producers of the film claimed Friday that they have got the required permission from the Censor Board for the movie's release.
Dera Sacha Sauda's spokesman Pawan Insan said that they received the formal letter of approval from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) today. He added that the film can be released within a week.
News of Censor Board clearance to the film triggered fresh protests in several parts of Punjab and Haryana. Reports suggest that the Haryana police held a high-level meet chaired by the DGP to review law and order situation ahead of the movie's release.
The Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) held protests in Gurgaon ahead of the premiere of MSG. Nearly 60 workers of INLD were detained for protesting against the screening of controversial Hindi movie 'The Messenger of God'.
In Amritsar, the Rapid Action Force (RAF) carried out a flag march anticipating protests ahead of the film's release. Sikh groups in Punjab and Haryana have been demanding a ban on the movie, alleging that the film hurts their religious sentiments.
All India Sikh Students Federation (AISSF) also appealed to Jharkhand's Chief Minister Raghuvar Das to ban screening of the controversial movie 'Messenger of God' (MSG) in the state.
In a letter to the chief minister today, Satnam Singh Gambhir, president of AISSF's Bihar-Jharkhand unit, called for banning of the film, featuring and produced by Dera Saccha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim, in Jharkhand, saying it would hurt the religious sentiments of the Sikh community.
‘MSG’ had initially failed to get the Censor Board's clearance amid protests by various groups but was eventually cleared by the Film Certification Apellate Tribunal (FCAT). Interestingly, that was when Censor Board chief Leela Samson decided to resign from her post.
The Dera Sacha Sauda chief will reportedly be holding a press conference at 4 pm today to officially announce the release of the film on January 23.
