Bhagwan Valmiki community, on Friday, staged a violent protest against Bollywood movie 'The Legend of Michael Mishra'
Bhagwan Valmiki community, on Friday, staged a violent protest against Bollywood movie 'The Legend of Michael Mishra'.
Indian police officials step in between engineering workers as they clash with activists from the Bhagwan Valmiki Samaj community. All pics/AFP
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The strike which was called by the Bhagwan Valmiki community reflected their view that the film offended their religious sentiments and the local government in the northern state of Punjab has suspended screening of the film.
Indian engineering workers clash with activists from the Bhagwan Valmiki Samaj community as they attempt to enforce a strike and close shops in Amritsar on August 5, 2016.
On Thursday, the Punjab government banned the screening of Hindi film 'The Legend of Michael Mishra' for two months with immediate effect after 'resentment' voiced by the members of a Dalit community over the way sage Valmiki was portrayed in it.
"During such suspension, it shall be deemed to be an uncertified film in the state," said an official spokesman. The decision was taken on account of 'strong resentment' among the Valmiki community regarding certain references to Maharishi Valmiki in the film, he added.
"The decision is aimed at keeping intact the hard-earned peace and social harmony of the state as the screening of the film may trigger massive protests," he said.
The film, written and directed by Manish Jha and starring Arshad Warsi, Aditi Rao Hydari and Boman Irani, is slated to release on screens on Friday.
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