Protests demanding ban on controversial movie rage across state

JAIPUR: Protests demanding ban on 'Padmavati' continued across the state on Saturday. Members of Shree Rajput Karni Sena visited a school in Sawai Madhopur and asked students to take a pledge to not watch the film.

Opposition Congress also organised various protests in the state, including Jaipur, demanding a ban on the film on Saturday.

While handing over a letter to a cinema hall in Sawai Madhopur not to screen the film, some activists of Karni Sena called on a school nearby and asked students not to watch the film.

"It was an awareness programme relating to the film. Many of these students may think that whatever the film shows might be true. Thus we have directed them not to watch the film which has distorted historical facts," claimed a member of Karni Sena.

The students were also asked to take a pledge to not watch the film. "We have requested cinema hall owners and told youngsters that the film has distorted history. Everyone is cooperating and hopefully the film won't be released," said an office-bearer of the Karni Sena.

Meanwhile, Congress workers in Jaipur burned the effigies of Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Union minister for information and broadcasting Smriti Irani. Workers led by Congress leader Vikram Singh gathered outside a mall and burnt effigies.

Similarly, after the Brahmin community announced that they would send 10,000 signatures in blood to the censor board, the Akhil Bhartiya Gujjar Mahasabha also joined protests with the Rajput community. "Such films should not be released by the censor board," said Rajendra Gujjar, national secretary of Mahasabha.