Now 'Padmaavat' banned in Haryana

Sanjay Leela Bhansali's "Padmaavat" was banned on Tuesday by Haryana's BJP government, even as massive protests against the movie's upcoming release continued in Rajasthan.

The decision to ban the film was taken on Tuesday at a meeting of the Haryana cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar.

"Padmaavat" is already banned in Rajasthan and Gujarat, both ruled by the BJP.

Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij tweeted about the ban being imposed on the movie which is set to release nationwide on January 25.

"Film Padmavati/Padmavat banned in Haryana," Vij wrote on Twitter.

Vij took up the issue regarding the impending release of the film and said the Rajput community in the state was against the film. He said the entire cabinet supported him on the move to impose a ban on screening of the film in Haryana.

The film, cleared by the Central Board of Film Certification with U/A certificate, has been caught in a row over claims by Rajput groups backed by a section of the BJP that it distorts history.

Shree Rajput Karni Sena, at the forefront of the protests, has demanded a nationwide ban on the film.

On Tuesday, Karni Sena members took out a massive rally led by its chief Lokendra Singh Kalvi in Dholpur, Rajasthan to protest against the Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor starrer.

"Dholpur was chosen as the location for the show of strength as it is situated on the Uttar Pradesh border. We want the Yogi Adityanath government in UP to ban the film as Haryana government has already declared its ban in their state," a senior member of Karni Sena told IANS.

The spokesperson said a huge protest is also being planned at Jantar Mantar in Delhi from January 22.

On their part, "Padmaavat" producers have stated that the film is based on "Padmavat", a poem by Sufi poet Malik Muhammad Jayasi, in an ode to the famed valour, legacy and courage of Rajputs, and portrays Rani Padmavati with utmost respect and does not tarnish her repute or misrepresent her character in any manner.