Dera followers protest over "non-screening" of MSG-2

Moga (Punjab), Sep 20: Supporters of Dera Sacha Sauda blocked rail and road traffic at various places in Punjab for the second day on Sunday demanding screening of 'MSG-2' film starring Dera chief Gurmit Ram Rahim in cinema halls.

The followers said no ban had been imposed on the film's screening, but still many owners of multiplexes and cinema owners were not exhibiting it.

The Sirsa-headquartered sect followers blocked rail and road traffic from Moga to Kotakpura, to Ludhiana, Ferozepur, Amritsar and Jalandhar, which remained suspended, putting a number of passengers to inconvenience, police said.

Though the film MSG-2 has not been banned in the state, the state police had asked all District Police Chiefs to ascertain whether the release of the movie will pose any threat to law and order in the state.

Despite incessant rains the followers of Dera blocked rain and road traffic by squatting on the roads and railway tracks, officials said.

Many cinema owners have refrained from screening the movie fearing backlash from Sikh protesters as the Dera head had been at loggerheads with the community earlier for allegedly hurting their religious sentiments.

Dera followers have declared that they would not lift their blockade unless the film MSG-2 was screened in theatres. Messenger of God 2 (MSG 2), a sequel of MSG, hit over 2000 screens across the country last Friday.

The film's overseas release is slated for next week. Senior police officials of the Bathinda district said they were keeping a strict watch on the situation.

PTI