IB red flags movie on Indira Gandhi’s assassination

Says the movie ‘Kaum De Heere’ can give rise to communal tensions

The Intelligence Bureau (IB) has warned the Union Home Ministry that the release of a film on the assassination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi can create tensions between the Hindu and Sikh community and states should be advised to take adequate steps to check any such occurrence. The movie ‘Kaum De Heere' is slated for release on August 22 after being cleared by the Censor Board with several cuts.

As per information available with the home ministry, Punjabi lyricist-cum-singer Raj Kakra’s début Punjabi movie ‘Kaum De Heere’ has been banned by Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) India. This movie is based on lives of Bhai Beant Singh, Satwant Singh and Kehar Singh. Bhai Beant Singh and Satwant Singh were bodyguards of Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and according to the script they had assassinated her on October 31, 1984 after she ordered attack on Darbar Sahib (Harmandar Sahib), Amritsar, in June 1984, in which thousands of Sikhs were massacred by the Indian Army.

It may be recalled that the Indian firm censor board had also banned the Punjabi movie ‘Sadda Haq’ in 2011, which was based on post-1984 events in Punjab. The movie was cleared in early 2012 during a review by appellate tribunal, but it was again banned by various state governments taking a plea that the screening of the movie might cause law and order problems. But ‘Sadda Haq’ was ultimately cleared by the Supreme Court after directing minor changes.

A few months back, in a written explanation on the reasons for refusing the certification, the regional officer of the board had cited relevant sections of the Cinematograph Act and guidelines that have been violated in the film.

"The film justifies assassination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi as heroes and martyrs," a board official wrote.

The IB is said to have warned that certain Hindu organisations have already started protesting over the contents of the movie which could lead to tensions.

In an interview to a national daily, twenty-five years after Beant Singh emptied his revolver into the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, the assassin's son said his father didn't do it to appease anyone in the Sikh community but wanted to personally avenge the Army's ‘Operation Bluestar’.

“My father had killed Indira Gandhi neither at the behest of any organisation nor to make any Sikh 'jathebandi' happy. This extreme step was the outcome of intense feelings that carried away my father, and under the circumstances we all respect his feelings," Sarabjeet Singh Khalsa, the 30-year-old son of Beant Singh said in an interview.

Indira Gandhi's assassination was the direct consequence of ‘Operation Bluestar’, which was done in June 1984 by the Indian Army on her directions. Military officials attacked Harmandar Sahib, popularly known as the Golden Temple in Amritsar, where militants were hiding with heavy ammunition.

According to figures of the Indian Army, ‘Operation Bluestar’ left nearly 600 people, including Army personnel, militants and civilians dead. However, many believe the correct figure of the killings is in thousands. About the attack on Harmandar Sahib, Sarabjeet firmly believes, "It was entirely a wrong decision by Indira Gandhi to order an attack on Harmandar Sahib, our holiest shrine. It was an unpardonable crime and no true Sikh can tolerate it even in his nightmare."

The Amritsar-based Akal Takht - highest temporal seat of Sikhism - had declared Beant Singh and Satwant Singh as martyrs of Sikhism in 2008. In this movie the two body guards of Indira Gandhi are being patronised as heroes and martyrs.

“This will surely create tension between the two groups,” said a DGCA official.