As Rajasthan, MP go to Supreme Court, protests against Padmaavat gather pace
Police in Haryana said a mall in Kurukshetra had been vandalised on Sunday evening in protest against the movie. They said a group of 20 to 22 miscreants had attacked the mall with swords and hammers. Photograph:( Others )
Protests against the movie Padmaavat -- the movie is scheduled for release on January 25 -- are gathering pace around the country.
The two states of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh approached the Supreme Court Tuesday to rethink its stay on their ban of the movie. The movie had been banned by two other states -- Gujarat and Haryana, but the court had last week ordered the bans to be lifted.
The court had said then that if the movie Bandit Queen (on the life of dacoit-turned-politician Phoolan Devi) could be released, then why not Padmaavat.
In Jaipur meanwhile, the Rajput Karna Sena staged a protest against the movie, saying, "We are confident that no cinema hall will screen the film and if someone does they should be ready to bear the consequences."
"Consider it a warning or request," the self-styled Sena added.
Rajput Karni Sena staged protest in Jaipur against screening of #Padmaavat, say ' We are confident that no cinema hall will screen the film & if someone does they should be ready to bear the consequences. Consider it a warning or request'. #Rajasthan pic.twitter.com/IJosg8jQo7
— ANI (@ANI) January 22, 2018
In Chittor meanwhile, Rajput women took out a "Chetavani rally". They said they would commit jauhar (mass sati) should the movie be released.
And ANI reported that a youth in Bhilwara had climbed a 350-foot-tall mobile tower along with a bottle of petrol. ANI added that the protester was saying he "will come down only when Padmaavat is banned in the country".
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said Monday that any cinema hall screening the movie would be given security but that "if someone decides not to screen the film it will be good."
If someone decides not to screen the film it will be good but if someone screens the film, they will be provided security. It is our duty to comply with Supreme Court's order: Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar #Padmaavat pic.twitter.com/0ZpfKOFG86
— ANI (@ANI) January 22, 2018
"It is our duty to comply with the Supreme Court order," he added.
Police in Haryana said a mall in Kurukshetra had been vandalised on Sunday evening in protest against the movie. They said a group of 20 to 22 miscreants had attacked the mall with swords and hammers.
We suspect this act was against #Padmaavat. 20-22 people suddenly entered the mall at 6:48 pm, vandalised it & escaped without saying a word. We have identified a few of them. Further Investigation is underway: #Haryana Police pic.twitter.com/ThAwR6S63d
— ANI (@ANI) January 22, 2018
Protesters had also blocked roads and set buses on fire in Gujarat on Sunday evening, again in protest against the movie.
Senior state minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama said afterwards that such protests were "natural" and that the government was looking for a legal opinion following the Supreme Court's order.
