According to the critics the film "glorifies" the murderers of the renowned Indian Prime Minister and could trigger a "law and order situation". The film tells the story of Gandhi's Sikh bodyguards, who apparently killed her in 1984 to avenge the massacre of Sikhs in the Golden Temple of Amritsar.

New Delhi (AsiaNews) - The Central Government of India today blocked the release of a film about the assassination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, the daughter of Jawaharlal Nehru and only woman to have ever held the office. According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the film is controversial because it "glorifies" the killers and could trigger a"law and order situation" in many areas of the country.

The film Kaum De Heere, "Diamonds of the Community," was scheduled for release today. It tells the story of Indira Gandhi's Sikh bodyguards who, October 31, 1984 apparently killed her to avenge her order - given four months earlier - for a military raid on the Golden Temple of Amritsar (Punjab) , where separatist militants were hiding.

According to the Sikh community, thousands of people were killed in the military raid. Gandhi's assassination sparked communal violence across the country and more than 3 thousand Sikhs were killed.

In Punjab the Congress Party - whose leader was Indira Gandhi - threatened to carry out protests if the film was released. The youth wing of the party has also written to the current Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asking them to ban the film which presents the murderers as heroes.

The decision was taken under Rule 32 of the Cinematograph (Certification) Rules 1983, which allows the Central Government to re-examine or demand changes to any film.

According to film producer Satish Katyal, the decision is the result of "political pressure". "The CBFC - he explains - has seen the film four times, and each time gave the go-ahead without censorship. Why then this sudden turnaround? ".

 

 

 

 

• INDIA
• Indira
• Gandhi
• assassination
• film
• communal
• violence
• Sikh
• censorship