New Delhi, Jan 21: Ahead of the release of controversial film Padmaavat, protesters in Gujarat on Sunday set buses on fire in Gandhinagar, Mehsana and Ahmedabad districts of the state demanding a ban on the film based on the fictitious character of Padmavati, also revered by the Rajput community in parts of Gujarat, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. The film is slated to be released across the country on January 25.
Alarmed after the fresh round of violence, Ahmedabad Police Commissioner on Sunday said that the protesters nears the multiplexes and theatres will be booked under section 308 of IPC (attempt to commit culpable homicide). The state police has also made preventive arrests to ensure law and order in some areas.
Protests also spread to other parts of the country. The members of an organisation staged a protest in Lucknow and burnt the posters of the film. The members of the organisation said they would urge the owners of theaters to not to screen the film.
In a similar move, members of Rajput Karni Sena distributed memorandum in all the theatres of Gurugram in Haryana. The memorandum sought a ban on the film and urged them to not to screen movie. The film directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali was banned by the state governments of Gujarat, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. However, the Supreme Court in its order lifted the ban on Thursday.
Miffed after the order, Sena Chief Lokendra Singh Kalvi urged people to impose a curfew on theatres across the country.“I appeal to the social outfits across the country to not let Padmavati run. People should impose a curfew on cinema halls,” said Karni Sena chief Lokendra Singh Kalvi. Echoing similar sentiments, former BJP leader Suraj Pal Amu said the releasing the film will result in breaking up of India.
Earlier in the day, the Jaipur Royals, denied the claims by the Sri Rajput Karni Sena that heritage sites in Rajasthan would remain closed unless Padmaavat gets banned, said that all the rumours are untrue. “Fort to remain open as per its timings on all days. Rumour of its closure untrue. Rajmata Sahiba passed no such instructions,” a statement issued by The City Palace and Jaigarh Fort said.
On the other hand, Rajasthan Home Minister Gulab Chand Kataria has said the state government will provide all protection to Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) chief Prasoon Joshi during the Jaipur literature festival amid the protests against the release of ‘Padmaavat’ film.
Supreme Court on Thursday lifted the ban on Padmaavat after hearing the plea filed by the producers of the film. The bench, also comprising Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, observed that the states are obliged to maintain law and order. “We direct that there shall be a stay of operation on the notification and orders issued and we also restrain other states from issuing such notifications or orders in this matter,” the bench said in its interim order.