Congress leader hits out at 'Zero' filmmakers for hurting sentiments

Congress leader Charan Singh Sapra alleged Tuesday that a scene in the Shah Rukh Khan-starrer upcoming film "Zero" hurts the sentiments of the Sikh community and it should be removed. The Aanand L Rai-directed film is set to release on December 21. 

Sapra, who is vice president of Mumbai Congress, said he has written to the Deputy Commissioner of Police Zone 7 (Mulund area) in this regard. He has also written to the film's producers, demanding that the `offensive' content be removed, he said. 

The trailer of the film shows Shah Rukh Khan's a character wearing `Gatra Kirpan' and making a mockery of it in a comic scene, he claimed. The Kirpan has its own sanctity in the Sikh religion and is worn only by baptised Sikhs, Sapra said. 

"I received many complaints that the manner in which the Kirpan is used in the film amounts to ridiculing and hurting our religious sentiments," said the former Member of Maharashtra Legislative Council. 

Police should register a case against the producers under IPC section 295 (a) (hurting religious sentiments), he said, warning of protests otherwise. Spokespersons of the film's producers refused to comment on the issue when contacted.

(With inputs from agencies.)