BJP Leader Moves PIL Plea In Calcutta High Court Seeking Prohibition On Exhibition Of Movie 'Laal Singh Chaddha'

A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) plea has been moved before the Calcutta High Court seeking prohibition on the exhibition of the Aamir Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan starrer movie, Laal Singh Chaddha in the state alleging that the same may cause a breach of peace.

BJP leader and lawyer, Nazia Ilahi Khan has moved the High Court stating that the situation in the state is extremely volatile in relation to any religious issue. In this regard and to substantiate her arguments, the petitioner has referred to some of the recent instances when the state came under a critical situation.

The plea avers that the state was in a rage due to the alleged provocative statement made by Nupur Sharma, former Spokesperson of the Bharatiya Janata Party against Prophet Mohammad. However, the plea adds, that the situation was controlled after the intervention of the Court.

The plea further refers to the a remark of the Chief Minister of the wherein she allegedly used the term Jihad against the principal Opposition Party in the State of West Bengal. Then also, the plea submits, that due to the intervention of the court situation was brought under control.

In furtherance of these submissions, the plea states that all these incidents show that when any act becomes communal in nature may be it through words or through signs, or visible representations, the situation in the State of West Bengal becomes quite vulnerable.

Against this backdrop, the plea adds that due to certain activities (plea mentions several instances involving alleged controversial remarks made by Actor Aamir Khan) of the male Protagonist in the movie, namely Amir Khan, the public has decided to boycott this film as well.

The plea claims that the boycott trend on social media has been started by people due to the activities of Amir Khan and that they won't allow people to go and watch his film, and therefore, in such a situation there are chances that a law and order situation may arise.

"The trend in Social Media has been advocated by quite a large amount of people and they would further not want others to go and watch this film in the theatres as that would make their 'hard work' go futile. Such anger and frustration on seeing that some people are going to watch the film can lead to a serious threat to the law and order situation in the State of West Bengal. Such factions who want to boycott the film may not let others watch the film in the theatres and this may lead to tussle and further may loosen the grip of the State over the law and order situation. Such a situation seriously leads to an apprehension that the law and order situation in the State may be compromised if the film is exhibited in the theatres any further," the plea states.

The plea submits that Khan had appeared in an advertisement in the year 2021 and specifically stated that firecrackers must not be used during Diwalis as it causes Noise Pollution thus, it can clearly be discerned that he has continuously criticized and targeted the Hindus and created a religious divide across the country and the State of West Bengal is not an exception to the same.

Regarding the content of the movie, the plea further states that the movie has also been accused of demoralizing and defaming the Indian Army as the makers have depicted that a mentally challenged person was allowed to join the Army to fight in the Kargil War.

The plea contends that it is a well-known adage that the best army personnel, rigorously trained army personnel, were sent to fight the Kargil War but the movie makers intentionally depicted the said situation in order to defame the Indian Army.

Consequently, the plea seeks the following relief:

- Direct the respondents to prohibit or suspend the exhibition of the film "Laal Singh Chaddha" in the theatres all across the State of West Bengal through the exercise of the power as provided in Section 6 (1) of the West Bengal Cinemas (Regulation) Act, 1954 as it may likely cause a breach of peace;

- Direct the respondents to maintain peace and tranquillity in and around the theatres wherein the film "Laal Singh Chaddha" is being exhibited (if the film could not be prohibited from being exhibited in the theatres);

- Direct the respondents to ensure the safety and security of the patrons who enter the theatres to watch the film "Laal Singh Chaddha" as their life may be at threat (if the film could not be prohibited from being exhibited in the theatres)