SGPC seeks ban on release of 'Nanak Shah Fakir'

Shiromani Gurudwara Pharbhandhak Committee (SGPC) today sought from Centre to impose a ban on the screening of movie 'Nanak Shah Fakir', saying that it was against the Sikh tenets to show Guru Nanak in "living form".
In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Arun Jaitley, SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar urged them to slap a ban on the release of the movie.
"No such scene should be depicted in the movie wherein first Sikh Guru Nanak Dev or even any of the family members are shown in the physical form as all these things are against the Sikh tenets," Makkar said.

In the letter, the SGPC Chief said, "Being the president of SGPC, it becomes my duty to inform your good office that Central Board of Film Certification neither bothered to involve any representative of Sikh Community, nor sought opinions from the leading religious Sikh institution SGPC at the time of giving clearance to the movie."
Makkar alleged that the producer has spread rumours that he got permission from the highest Sikh temporal seat Akal Takht for showing the movie. "Whereas, Akal Takht never sanctioned any such permission to this controversial movie Nanak Shah Fakir," he claimed.
The movie is expected to be released on April 17.

Akal Takht Jatehdar Giani Gurbachan Singh said, "Anything damaging to Sikh tenets depicted in the picture wouldn't be tolerated."
Meanwhile, radical Sikh outfit Dal Khalsa spokesperson Kanwar Pal Singh warned the film producer and artists against the release of the movie.