With cinema owners decided not to screen controversial Hindi film Padmaavat in Gujarat, agitating Rajput Community in the State
decided not to join Bharat Bandh on Thursday.
Despite appeal from the State Government as well leaders of the Rajput community, unrest continued across the State over the release of Padmaavat on Wednesday.
A fresh round of the protest against release of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s film Padmaavat initiated on late Tuesday which turned violent forcing police to fire two rounds in the air in Ahmedabad.
Sources said a group of nearly 1,500 to 2,000 people, claiming to be affiliated to Rajput Karni Sena assembled outside Dev Arc Mall in Ahmedabad that houses a movie theatre to hold a candle march.
The crowd then moved across another mall, Acropolis Mall, housing cinema hall. They shouted slogans bringing traffic on this busy road to a grinding halt.
As the news of violence spread, Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel who had earlier appealed to the people to boycott the movie on their own volition to help maintain law and order, again appealed to the people to “stay calm”. Similar appeals were issued by State Home Minister Pradeepsinh Jadeja as
well as senior Minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama. “It appears that certain anti-social elements are trying to defame our community.”
Leaders of Karni Sena on the other hand said activists of their organisation were not involved in any sort of violence. In a joint Press conference on Wednesday late evening Karani Sena’s president Raj Shekhavat, Minister Chudasama gave assurance that Gujarat will not remain Bandh on Thursday, all essential services, including schools, banks, hospital, and Government offices across the State remain open.
Single theatre and Multiplex owners in Gujarat have already announced that they would not release the controversial film. Padmaavat is releasing on the eve of Republic Day.
Thanking theatre and multiplex owners, Shekhavat said he and whole Rajput community was thankful for the support extended by not releasing movie.
He also thanked Gujarat Government for understanding sentiments of his community. He reiterated that history was distorted in the film.
Meanwhile, heavy traffic jam witnessed on Ahmedabad-Vadodara Express Highway as youngsters believed to be from Rajput community came on the road restricted the movement of vehicles there. Similar situation was created near Malpur highway situated in Aravalli district of North Gujarat. Protesters also torched an ST bus in Banaskantha district and pelted stones on several other buses.
As many as 44 people were arrested by police in Ahmedabad in the cases related to protest against the film. The police personnel also detained more than 105 two-wheelers used for violent protests. Rapid Action Force (RAF) flagged march in Vastrapur area of the city.