STOP RELEASE OF PADMAVATI FILM, SAYS VIJ

CHANDIGARH:HARYANA health minister Anil Vij said filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali has not only dented the image and honour of Rani Padmavati in his movie but also violated the Indian law against the Sati tradition.

“The Film Sensor Board, an independent agency, should stall the release of Padmavati keeping in view the people’s sentiments,” Vij said in a statement issued here on Monday. He said the Union Information and broadcasting minister has already been apprised of the people’s sentiments in this regard.

Protesting the release of the movie, the minister said Padmavati was the pride of our country and that she along with 16,000 women had committed self-immolation (jauhar) after Rana Rattan Singh fell in the war.

“It is an insult to show princess of such high character dancing in public. It is objectionable as it tampers with history,” he said. Vij said the Sati tradition had been completely abolished in India and nobody should be allowed to make a movie promoting the same.