New Delhi, Jan. 16: A film on the head of a sect playing himself in the lead has pushed the government on the defensive by prompting resignations by overruled censors, straining the BJP's ties with ally Akali Dal and triggering demonstrations by political parties and Sikh bodies.

Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, 47, drives a sports car, belts out Hindi rock, fights goons and cures people of terminal illnesses in MSG: The Messenger of God, which the censor board had refused to clear, dubbing it a long advertisement for the 'godman'.

But it was cleared for release with a few cuts by an appellate authority yesterday, prompting Central Board of Film Certification chairperson Leela Samson to resign late last night in protest. Another board member, Ira Bhaskar, quit today.

The Shiromani Akali Dal, Indian National Lok Dal and various Sikh bodies opposed to the Dera took to the streets today in Haryana, Punjab and Delhi protesting against the film and the government.

Eventually, the scheduled Friday release and premiere were deferred indefinitely, on the ground that the written order from the appellate body was yet to arrive although the ministry had announced the tribunal's clearance.

Ram Rahim, whose purported 5 crore followers include a large number of Dalits, wrote and directed the film.

BJP sources admitted the government was probably returning a favour by getting the film cleared as Ram Rahim had urged his followers to back the BJP during the recent Haryana Assembly polls and praised initiatives by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Samson cited 'interference, coercion and corruption' by the tribunal members and censor board bureaucrats, all appointed by the information and broadcasting ministry.

But junior I&B minister Rajyavardhan Rathore said the government had 'always maintained a distance from the entire process of film certification'. He said Samson should show the 'SMS' or 'letter' which could show there was 'interference'.

But several censor board members questioned the 'unusually hurried' manner in which the film was cleared by the four-member tribunal.

'The credibility of the censor board is at stake,' said Nandini Sardesai, a censor board member. 'We had sent the report to the I&B ministry on Wednesday, explaining why the film should not be certified, and they have ensured it has been cleared within 24 hours. What is this, if not a politically motivated decision?' She said it was 'appalling' that someone claiming to be a spiritual leader was 'unabashedly promoting blind faith, superstition and unscientific attitudes'.

Another censor board member, Pankaj Sharma, said the board's decision had been subverted for 'political reasons', terming it 'unacceptable and demoralising'.

Akali Dal MP Naresh Gujral said the clearance to the film was 'upsetting and possibly dangerous for peace in Punjab and Haryana'.

'Even the home ministry, based on intelligence reports, had urged the I&B ministry to be cautious about the film as many Sikh organisations are already agitated. If the film is released, it will only worsen the situation,' he told The Telegraph.

In Delhi, Akali Dal supporters marched towards the BJP headquarters demanding a probe into the circumstances leading to the clearance to the film and Samson's resignation.

BJP leader and Madhya Pradesh minister Kailash Vijayvargiya, instrumental in mustering the Dera's support for the party, however, said the film's release was being 'unnecessarily politicised'.

Ram Rahim describes himself as a spiritual saint, philanthropist, versatile singer, all-round sportsperson, film director, art director, music director, scriptwriter, lyricist, autobiography author and director of photography on his Twitter account.

In 2007, clashes had erupted between Dera followers and Sikhs in Bathinda, Punjab, after an advertisement showed Ram Rahim dressed as Guru Gobind Singh.

Ram Rahim today claimed he had not tried to project himself as God or hurt any religious sentiments. 'I have clearly said I am just a human being. The acts portrayed in the movie are simply stunts,' he said. 'The movie does not spread superstition. I don't feel it will cause law and order problems.'Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi asked for a 'comprehensive inquiry' into the controversy.

Additional reporting by PTI