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In Padmavati Row, Fringe Group Karni Sena Threatens To 'Cut Off Deepika Padukone's Nose'
Padmavati Controversy: Protests have been spreading against the Deepika Padukone-starrer film, with more groups joining the demand that the film be banned.
All India | Reported by Harsha Kumari Singh, Edited by Shylaja Varma | Updated: November 16, 2017 15:32 IST
Padmavati Controversy: The Deepika Padukone-starrer is based on the legend of Rani Padmini of Chittor.
JAIPUR: A fringe Rajasthan group called the Karni Sena has escalated its protests against director Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Padmavati, threatening actor Deepika Padukone with physical harm and calling for a bandh across the country on December 1, the day the film is set be released.
"Rajputs never raise a hand on women but if need be, we will do to Deepika what Lakshman did to Shurpanakha," said a leader of the group in a video released today, referring to the act of cutting the nose off. Another member of the Sena said, "We will gather in lakhs, our ancestors wrote history with blood we will not let anyone blacken it.We will call for a Bharat bandh on December 1."
One group has threatened to send signatures in blood to the Censor Board to demand that the film not be cleared for release.
Protests have been spreading, with more groups joining the demand that the film be banned.
Padmavati is based on the legend of Rani Padmini of Chittor and critics, mostly Rajput groups, say the film wrongly implies a romantic relationship between Padmini and Emperor Alauddin Khilji.
Sanjay Leela Bhansali has repeatedly denied the allegations and even released a video clarifying that his film does not distort history, but to no avail.
The Karni Sena has threatened to ban the entry of tourists into the historical Chittorgarh Fort, where Rani Padmini was said to live in the 14th century, if their demands are not met by November 17. Earlier this week, its members went on the rampage in Kota destroying shops and vandalising the ticket window of a cinema hall that was screening a trailer of the film.
Padmavati Controvery: Protests spread to many places, with more groups demanding that the film be banned.
While the Rajasthan government struggles to handle the protests, pleading with groups not to "take the law in your hands," the Uttar Pradesh government of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has written to the Centre saying that the release of the film could will pose a law and order problem for the state.
A senior bureaucrat said in the letter, addressed to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting that, "The Censer Board members should take a decision after taking into account people's views. They should be apprised about it."
The UP government said it has intelligence reports that the film's producers have presented the movie for the Censor Board's clearance and that "after the release of the trailer of the movie on October 9, various social and other organisations opposed the film." Amid such such strong protests, it said, there are fears of law and order being disrupted.
Padmavati stars Deepika Padukone as the Queen, while Shahid Kapoor plays Maharawal Ratan Singh and Ranveer Singh plays Alauddin Khilji.
Historians are still debating whether Padmini existed. The story of Padmini popular today was told in a 1540 poem by Malik Mohammad Jayasi called Padmawat. Tourists who visit the Chittorgarh Fort are told a queen of legendary beauty and fortitude.
The film ran into trouble with the powerful Rajputs of Rajasthan soon after shooting began. Its sets were vandalised twice. The director was attacked while shooting in Rajasthan capital Jaipur. Deepika Padukone as trolled on Twitter with vitriolic tweets recently after she spoke about the film.
Source: NDTV
Public anger over Padmavati: Yogi Adityanath govt to I&B Ministry
BJP MP from Aligarh, Satish Gautam, and three other party MLAs have written separate letters to CM Yogi Adityanath demanding a ban on Padmavati's release in Aligarh.
Written by Lalmani Verma | Lucknow | Updated: November 16, 2017 7:40 am
Yogi Adityanath govt wants Padmavati deferred in Uttar Pradesh The Uttar Pradesh government wants the release of Padmavati deferred in the state (File Photo)
The Uttar Pradesh government has asked the I&B Ministry to get the release of the movie Padmavati deferred in the state because "public anger over the "script and "distorted historical facts in the film could lead to an "adverse effect on the law-and-order situation. In a letter sent on Wednesday, UP Principal Secretary (Home) Arvind Kumar also said that the administration would be busy with counting of votes for the civic polls and ensuring arrangements for the Muslim festival Barawafat on December 1, when the movie is scheduled to release across the country.
In the letter, the UP government has asked the Ministry to get the censor board to take cognizance of these issues while taking a decision on granting a certificate to the film.
The letter, which was also copied to the CEO of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), comes a day after protests against Sanjay Leela Bhansali's movie turned violent in Rajasthan where members of the Karni Sena vandalised a cinema hall in Kota.
Speaking to The Indian Express, Arvind Kumar said, "I was told that the CBFC has yet to take a call on its certification. Hence, the state government wanted to share the intelligence inputs it received about reactions from various social organisations so that the CBFC takes cognizance of them while taking a decision. Also, the administration has prior engagements on December 1 for counting of votes for local body polls and Barawafat. In the letter, Kumar wrote that "while movies based on facts, with positive stories, motivate and influence the society to move on the right path, movies with distorted historical facts, exaggeration, false and fictional stories create a vicious atmosphere in the nation and society, develop social hatred and generate serious challenges for law and order.
The letter said, "In the past, there have been incidents when anarchy and the situation of law and order have emerged on a large scale due to such movies.
Referring to the law-and-order situation, the letter stated, "Various social, cultural and other organisations have staged protests after the launch of the trailer on October 9, stating that the film has shown a Ghoomar dance' by Rani Padmavati and her love affair with Allauddin Khilji, which is not mentioned in any history book. Demanding to ban the screening of the film, these organisations have been giving strong reactions through demonstrations, sloganeering, processions, memorandum and torching effigies.
The letter said that these organisations have demanded that those scenes, which show the character of Rani Padmavati in bad light, be removed from the movie. "These organisations have also warned of demonstrations with ruckus and arson in cinema halls if the movie is screened, it said.
Pointing to the counting of votes for civic polls and the festival of Barawafat, it said, "In such an atmosphere, if this film is released in public in the same form in which its trailer was launched, a situation of unrest and law-and-order could happen on a large scale. In view of prior commitments of the administration due to the local body elections and Barawafat, release of the film on December 1 will not be in the interests of law and order. Leaders of the BJP, which is ruling the state, have also opposed the film. The BJP MP from Aligarh, Satish Gautam, and three other party MLAs have written separate letters to Chief minister Yogi Adityanath demanding a ban on the film's release in Aligarh.
BJP MLA from Chharra, Ravendra Pal Singh, said they have sent letters to the Chief Minister following the demand for a ban by the Kshatriya Mahasabha. Asked whether there was a possibility of protests after the movie's release, Singh said, "It may happen.
Koil MLA, Anil Parashar, said he had not watched the trailer but "received feedback from social organsiations that facts have been distorted which could hurt the sentiments of the public.
Mr And Mrs Parshuram
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