Protests mar Himesh's film release in Ajmer

Ajmer, June 29 (UNI) Violent protests marred the release of music director-turned-actor Himesh Reshamiya's film Aap Ka Suroor here today, after he created a controversy by wearing a burqa while paying obeisance to Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti(veil) at Ajmer Sharif Dargah, which is said to have hurt the religious sentiments of Muslims.

Protestors pulled down the posters and hoardings of the film, burnt them, forced the audience of the first show out of the halls and disrupted the show. The first show could begin only an hour later.

Shouting slogans, Congress students wing NSUI's district chief Naurat Gurjar, genreal secretary Sarvesh Pareek and other party workers assembled outside the cinema hall 'Cine World' where the first show was supposed to start at 0900 hrs.

Mr Gurjar alleged that Reshammiya wore a burqa to the dargah, flouted its rules and hurt religious sentiments only to earn cheap publicity. He said the incident also made a mockery of the security arrangements of the shrine.

Notably, Reshamiyya enraged the dargah authorities when he wore a burqa to the dargah to escape the attention of his fans and admirers two days ago.

Both Anjuman, comprising dargah committee khadims and dargah diwan Saiyad Jainual Abedin, expressed their displeasure over the incident.

Dargah Comittee Sadr Peerjaza Sibli Qasim had decided to take action against Reshammiya. The actor had, however, apologised for the incident.

UNI