Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Amarinder Singh on Tuesday decided not to intervene on the issue of the controversial movie ‘Nanak Shah Fakir’ in view of the film-makers’ reported decision not to release the movie in the state.

Any decision to ban on the movie had become unnecessary in view of the film-makers’ decision against releasing it in Punjab, he said.

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The makers of the film, in their petition before the Supreme Court (SC), had clearly stated that “looking at the sensitivity of the issue and the public sentiment involved”, they had decided “not to release the film in the state of Punjab for the time being.”

Taking cognizance of this submission, the CM, in a statement issued here, said no action was required on the part of the state government in the matter at present. The government would review the situation and take an appropriate decision if the same becomes necessary in the future, he added.

Amarinder made it clear that his government would take all possible steps, as and when deemed necessary, to ensure that there is no disruption of law and order in the state. Any attempt to vitiate the peaceful atmosphere in the state would be dealt with an iron hand, he said.

The CM said he had also taken note of the Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of the Sikhs,

decision with regard to the film. The Akali Takht had yesterday decided to ban the movie amid protests by several Sikh organisations, who had objected to the portrayal of Guru Nanak, saying any on-screen depiction of a Sikh Guru or his family members was against the tenets of Sikh religion. Projecting the Guru and his family as human beings was offensive to the principles of Sikhi, they said.

The CM was of the view that while authors, film-makers etc had the creative freedom of expression, such freedom could not be allowed to violate the religious sensitivities of any community.

At the same time, he appealed to the protesting Sikh organisations not to resort to violence or cause any damage to life and property to express their resentment against the movie.

Captain Amarinder also clarified that, contrary to what was being stated in a section of the media, no orders banning the movie in Punjab had been issued by his government.

The controversial film Nanak Shah Fakir was by the Supreme Court for its release on April 13. The film has run into controversy with the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and Akal Takht jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh opposing the release of the film that depicts the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak Dev, in a human form.