Screening of 'Gadar' disrupted in Ahmedabad

By Our Special Correspondent

GANDHINAGAR, JUNE 25. The Gujarat Government has asked the police officials concerned to provide security to the cinemas screening ``Gadar,'' following disturbances in a cinema in Ahmedabad on Sunday night.

The cinema screen, showing the film in a Muslim- dominated area, was set afire along with some vehicles parked outside during the night show. The disturbances were reportedly the result of an altercation between two groups over some ``objectionable dialogues.'' The Home Secretary, Mr. K. Nityanandam, said no arrest had been made so far but the miscreants were suspected to be locals.

The Minister of State for Home, Mr. Haren Pandya, appealed to the people not to disrupt the screening of the ``nationalist'' film and the Social Welfare Minister, Mr. Fakirbhai Waghela, said Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence was behind the disturbances in Gujarat and elsewhere.

``No Indian national can have any objection against the film presented in a passionate way to imbibe the spirit of nationalism. It must be the work of anti-national elements guided by the Pakistan spy agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI),'' Mr. Waghela said in a letter to the Chief Minister, Mr. Keshubhai Patel.

Sena's counter offensive

In New Delhi, the Shiv Sena today launched a counter offensive against the people opposing the screening of the film `Gadar _ Ek Prem Katha' and demanded an immediate ban on outfits involved in violent protests.

In a statement, party leader, Mr. Abhimanyu Gulati, termed as ``anti-nationals'' those who attacked cinema halls to prevent them from showing the film and condemned the protest.

Yesterday, about 10 persons were arrested for trying to create disturbance during the screening of the film in the Plaza cinema hall in the capital. Mr. Gulati said he felt that the film had not shown anything ``objectionable''.

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