New Delhi: Violent protests erupted in different parts of the country on Wednesday ahead of the 25 January release of the controversial Bollywood film Padmaavat, which is based on the saga of the 13th century battle between Maharaja Ratan Singh of Mewar and Sultan Alauddin Khilji of Delhi.
Karni Sena, a Rajput group headed by Lokendra Singh Kalvi, has warned that a ‘Janta curfew’ will be imposed on theatres screening the movie. Kalvi has blamed the widespread violence, reportedly carried out at many places by members of his outfit, on film director Bhansali.
The film, starring Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor and Ranveer Singh, was slated for a 1 December release but will now hit the theatres nationwide on Thursday.
Haryana:
A Haryana Roadways bus was set on fire on Wednesday near village Bhondsi in Gurugram allegedly by activists of Karni Sena, who were protesting against the release of film ‘Padmaavat’.
This latest incident of hooliganism occurred despite Haryana Police claims that nobody would be allowed to disrupt peace in the state in the wake of the controversial movie’s release on Thursday. A group of activists torched the Haryana Roadways bus near village Bhondsi on the Sohna road here, police said in Gurugram.
However, there was no loss of life in the incident, a police officer said, adding that activists allegedly owing allegiance to Karni Sena were protesting against the release of the movie.
Earlier, a group of unidentified hooligans had vandalized a shopping mall in Kurukshetra in January 21. Carrying sharp edged weapons and sticks, they broke the glasses panes of shops in the mall. A number of fringe groups had threatened multiplex, theatre and cinema hall owners against the screening of the movie alleging that it portrayed the character of ‘Rani Padmavati’ in “poor light”.
Madhya Pradesh:
Various fringe outfits staged demonstrations in Indore and other Madhya Pradesh towns and blocked a national highway on Wednesday ahead of the release of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s film ‘Padmaavat’.
Nearly 200 protesters blocked National Highway-3, which links Agra with Mumbai, near Pigdambar crossing in Kishanganj area in Indore district and broke glass bottles on the road, police said.
Heated arguments ensued between the protesters, who included members of Karni Sena, and the police when the Rajput group members tried to stop vehicles as part of their protest.
Additional superintendent of police Nagendra Singh said the situation has been brought under control.
Around 50 Karni Sena activists armed with sticks burnt an effigy of Bhansali, the film’s director, on Indore-Depalpur road, police said. The road was cleared after the protesters were given a warning. Agitations were also carried out in Sagar, Guna, Bhopal, Ratlam and other towns in Madhya Pradesh against the movie.
Maharashtra:
Around 50 supporters of Karni Sena were detained in Mumbai on Wednesday for protesting against the controversial film Padmaavat, an official said.
Protesters had set car tires ablaze during a demonstration in Mumbai on Tuesday. Radical groups have blocked roads and burned buses and toll boths in protests against the movie in recent days.
“We have detained around 50 supporters of Karni Sena so far in different parts of Mumbai. They were taken into custody when they gathered for protesting against the film,” a senior police official said. More people are likely to be taken into preventive custody, he said.
In Nashik, the police have detained around 20 activists of the Karni Sena for protesting against Padmaavat. A leader of the Rajput organisation had earlier threatened that the activists would take a ‘jal samadhi’ (drown themselves) in the Gangapur dam, located around 10 kms from the district headquarters.
The film has been facing protests by the Karni Sena and other fringe groups over allegations that historical facts were distorted in the movie.
Gujarat:
Hundreds of protesters went on a rampage vandalising malls and torching vehicles in Ahmedabad and elsewhere over the past few days in a bid to stop the release of Padmaavat scheduled for Thursday.
Several hundred people attacked shops in malls, set alight 50 motorbikes and damaged more than 150 cars across the city, police said. Gujarat home minister Pradipsinh Jadeja said 10 people were arrested on Tuesday and would be “dealt with strictly”.
Police said the names of more than 500 suspects for rioting and unlawful assembly had been registered across Gujarat. At least 100 suspects had been detained and could face charges over the riots, a senior police officer in Ahmedabad told AFP.
“Their accounts, and CCTV footage from different areas, is being verified. Some of them may be arrested later,” the officer said on condition of anonymity.
The Supreme Court last week paved the way for its nationwide release by staying the notifications and orders issued by Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Gujarat prohibiting exhibition of the film in the states. The apex court also restrained other states from issuing such notifications or orders banning the screening of the movie.