What kind of uproar in Britain over Kangana Ranaut’s ‘Emergency’? India enraged, demands action

Last Updated:January 24, 2025, 6:31 PM IST

Kangana Emergency Protest: There have been many reports of disruption in the screening of Kangana Ranaut’s film ‘Emergency’ in UK theaters. The Ministry of External Affairs has criticized this intimidation by pro-Khalistan elements…read more

New Delhi. Kangana Ranaut’s recent release ‘Emergency’ is facing huge opposition in London. It is reported that some people here scared and threatened the audience watching the film. India has expressed serious concern on this matter. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that freedom of expression ‘cannot be selectively enforced’ and those responsible should be held accountable.

External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal expressed concern over these incidents in his weekly press briefing and said that the Indian government has been continuously raising issues related to violent protests and threats. He said, ‘We have seen reports that the screening of the film ‘Emergency’ was disrupted in many halls. We regularly raise issues related to violent protests and threats with the UK Government. Freedom of expression and freedom of thought cannot be selectively enforced, and those who are disrupting it must be held responsible.’

‘British government should take action’
Jaiswal expressed hope that the UK government will take appropriate action in this matter. He said, ‘We hope that the UK government will take appropriate action against those involved in this incident. Our High Commission in London is in regular contact to ensure the safety and benefit of our community members. India has also clarified that such incidents against India and its citizens are unacceptable, and appropriate action must be ensured.

The issue of this film of Kangana Ranaut resonated in the British Parliament. Here, opposition MP Bob Blackman claimed that ‘masked Khalistani terrorists’ threatened the audience at the theater in North-West London, where Kangana Ranaut’s film ‘Emergency’ was being watched. The Conservative Party MP appealed to UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper to intervene in the matter and issue a statement on it.

Ruckus in Birmingham, Manchester, Slough, Wolverhampton also
Blackman also alleged in Parliament that similar disruptions to screenings of the film were seen in Birmingham, Manchester, Wolverhampton, Slough and Staines, leading to theaters deciding to stop screening the film. He called it a ‘very controversial film’.

He said in Parliament, ‘On Sunday, many of my area residents had bought tickets to watch the film ‘Emergency’ at Haro Viu Cinema. “About 30 to 40 minutes after the film started, masked Khalistani terrorists entered there, threatened the audience and forced the screening to be stopped.”

Let us tell you that Kangana Ranaut’s ‘Emergency’, which was released in theaters on January 17, also had to face protests in Punjab, India. Kangana Ranaut has also directed the film based on the Emergency imposed in the country (1975-77). She has played the role of Indira Gandhi in this film. Recently, Kangana Ranaut’s statement came out regarding the protests against the film in Punjab.

Kangana shared a post on social media and called this protest ‘harassment of art and artist’. He had written, ‘This is oppression of art and artists, reports are coming from many cities of Punjab that these people are not allowing ‘Emergency’ to be displayed. I have great respect for all religions and having studied and grown up in Chandigarh, I have observed and followed Sikhism very closely. This is a complete lie and propaganda to tarnish my image and harm my film.