LONDON: Harrow East MP Bob Blackman has raised the storming of Harrow Vue cinema last Sunday night in the UK Parliament, describing the masked Khalistanis who barged into the movie and got the film “Emergency” stopped as “terrorists”.The Tory MP has called on home secretary Yvette Cooper to make a statement about the incident outlining what she will do to ensure the British public can watch films, that are passed by censors, in peace.Sikh Federation UK says it is reporting Blackman to the parliamentary commissioner for standards for “unacceptable conduct” for describing Khalistanis who, it says, are peaceful protesters objecting to the film, as “terrorists” and for defaming and demonising Sikhs who are “calling for the re-establishment of a Sikh homeland”.On Sunday a group of around 30 masked Khalistani men and one woman barged into the Harrow cinema, which was packed with PIOs watching the Kangana Ranaut flick. The protesters tried to block the projector and spread across the cinema, holding their fists up and shouting “Khalistan Zindabad” and “Indian govt murderers”. Everyone fled their seats except a small group of British Indians who got into a blazing row with them. The film was cancelled and the police were called but no arrests were made.Blackman said in the House of Commons on Thursday: “At about 30 or 40 minutes into the screening, masked Khalistani terrorists burst in, threatened members of the audience and forced the screening to end… This is a very controversial film, and I don’t comment on the quality or content of it, but I defend the right of my constituents and others to be able to view that film. There are certain views that this is an anti-Sikh film, but I think our constituents should be able to see this film and judge for themselves, and not be threatened by thugs who want to disrupt democratic opportunities to see public films.”He said he had nothing against people demonstrating outside cinema halls.Lucy Powell, leader of the House of Commons, agreed British people should be able to go about their activities freely and she would update the House on this “important matter”.Blackman described it as “horrific intimidation” of his constituents by “pro-Khalistan thugs” on X, saying: “We must stand up to anyone trying to silence free speech.”Owing to similar protests elsewhere, the film has now been pulled from almost all cinemas in Britain.
