Youth Congress activists stage protest against 'The Accidental Prime Minister' in Kolkata, vandalise multiplex

Protests by Congress workers across the country against Anupam Kher-starrer 'The Accidental Prime Minister'.

KNOWLEDGE SIR

Youth Congress activists on Friday staged protests against the screening of the film "The Accidental Prime Minister" in two multiplexes on Friday disrupting shows, allegedly tearing the screen of one plex.

They stormed into Inox multiplex located in Quest Mall, south Kolkata on Friday evening during the screening of the movie 'The Accidental Prime Minister' and vandalised the cinema hall. Congress supporters in huge numbers rushed into the hall, tore apart the screen and asked everyone to leave. 

Also Read: 'The Accidental Prime Minister' review

However, the West Bengal Congress disapproved the action and said the party would never "oppose freedom of speech", which it values deeply as part of its ideology.

A group of 15 Youth Congress activists staged a protest outside a multiplex chain located on Ganesh Chandra Avenue Friday afternoon and burnt posters of the film. They also raised slogans against the actors and the producer of the film.

Another group Youth Congress activists staged a protest outside a multiplex chain located on Ganesh Chandra Avenue Friday afternoon and burnt posters of the film. They also raised slogans against the actors and the producer of the film. One of the demonstrators said, "We will not allow screening of this film anywhere. It shows Congress leaders in poor light." "This is nothing but a propaganda film to show former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress party in poor light," another youth Congress activist said during protests in the central Kolkata hall.

Protests by Youth Congress activists led to the cancellation of the screening of the movie in the Hind Inox cinema hall in Kolkata. According to hall authorities, no one instructed them to stop the screening. But they took a call ascertaining the risk perception of the ticket-paying public. A spokesperson of the multiplex chain concerned said, "The respective shows had to be cancelled in two theatres due to agitation keeping in mind safety of the guests"

Right from the morning, youth Congress activists were protesting in front of the hall at Central Kolkata, which is a traditional stronghold of the party. As soon as the screening started, the situation outside the hall became tensed. Youth Congress workers started burning posters of the film. Just merely 10 minutes into the screening of the movie, police in civil uniform entered the hall and requested the viewers to go out. The film was being shown in seven plexes, run by three multiplex chains, across the city having different show timings.