A day after a mall in Haryana’s Kurukshetra was vandalised by miscreants in protest against movie ‘Padmavaat’, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal on Monday said, “If someone decides not to screen the film due to the appeals made, it will be very good. But if someone wishes to screen the film, we will provide the security.”
The Chief Minister’s statement comes amid the controversy surrounding the release of Padmavaat on January 25 and subsequent, appeals and threats issued by Karni Sena and other organizations to the theatres not to screen the movie.
“It is our duty to comply with the orders of Supreme Court,” said the Chief Minister while talking to the mediapersons in Gurugram.
“If someone decides not to screen the film due to the appeals made, it will be good. But if someone screens the film, the government will provide security,” added he.
A mall in Kurukshetra was vandalised by around 20 miscreants allegedly in protest against the release of Sanjay Leela Bhansali directed Padmavaat on Sunday. Eye-witnesses alleged that a group of around 20 people opened fire and attacked the place with hammers and swords.
According to the police, some of the miscreants have been identified and further investigation is being undertaken.
BS Sandhu, Haryana Director-General of Police had on Sunday said that no one will be allowed to disrupt peace in the state during the screening of Hindi movie.
Despite court orders, Haryana police had in the past failed on several occasion to maintain law and order situation in the state. The violent Jat agitation 2016 and dera Panchkula violence 2017 were major failures of the state civil and police administration and had made international headlines.
Notably, the Supreme Court had on last Thursday ordered to stay notifications issued by four states including Haryana prohibiting the screening of Padmavaat.
The BJP led Haryana Government had on January 16 during its cabinet meeting decided to ban the release of the movie across the state.
In Haryana, several Cabinet ministers were in favor of ban on the movie. After the orders of Apex Court, senior Minister Anil Vij even went onto say that the movie could lead to a law and order situation in the State.
BJP leader Suraj Pal Ammu, who was Haryana BJP chief media coordinator had resigned from his party post demanding a ban on the movie. The BJP leader had shot to limelight after his controversial remarks, offering Rs 10 crores for beheading actor Deepika Padukone and director Sanjay Leela Bhansali.
Both Anil Vij and Suraj Pal Ammu have remained vocal against the release of the movie in Haryana even after the SC orders. Anil Vij has even said that patriots should not watch this film.
Following SC orders, protests are held in various parts of Haryana to stop the screening of the movie. Protests were held in Gurugram, Jind, Kurukshetra and various parts of the state on Monday as well and Karni Sena has even threatened the malls to not screen the movie.
Effigy of Sanjay Leela Bansali were also burnt at several places in protest.
The film starring Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor and Ranveer Singh in the lead roles has remained in the controversy since last year over the alleged distortion of historical facts in the movie. While Ranveer is essaying the role of Alauddin Khilji, Shahid plays Maharawal Ratan Singh and Deepika plays Padmini, the Rajput queen in Padmavaat,
The Central Board of Film Certification had cleared the movie along with some modifications on December 30 and film’s title Padmavati was changed to Padmaavat.