Karni Sena expels members who announced withdrawal of protests
JAIPUR: A splinter group of the Karni Sena on Saturday suspended its national vice-president for announcing “withdrawal” of an agitation against Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s magnus opus Padmaavat, indicating deep divisions among the Rajput community over the film.
There are at least eight groups that claim to be the real Karni Sena and two of them are spearheading violent protests against the film that they allege portrays queen Padmini in poor light.
On Friday, Shri Rashtriya Rajput Karni Sena’s Maharashtra unit said it was withdrawing the protests after some members saw the film and found nothing objectionable. The outfit’s national president Sukhdev Singh Gogamedi said “whoever went to watch the film yesterday did so in their personal capacity” and the agitation will continue. “We will continue to oppose the film and appeal to everyone not to give credence to rumours,” he said.
Gogamedi was part of Lokendra Singh Kalvi’s Shri Rajput Karni Sena, which is spearheading the protests against the film, but later formed his own Karni Sena. The film, released on January 25, has not been screened in Rajasthan. The Maharashtra unit had claimed that its members watched the movie on instruction from Gogamedi. “The movie glorifies the valour of Rajputs and every Rajput will feel proud after watching it,” its Mumbai leader Yogendra Singh Katar said before suspension.
Kalvi also reiterated that they will continue to oppose the film. “There are people giving statements on behalf of Karni Sena, but there is only one Karni Sena and our stand is clear that Padmaavat should not have been released,” he said. Gogamedi also hinted at a reconciliation with the BJP after its loss in the Rajasthan bypolls. “The organisation’s opposition to BJP was till the recent by-election,” Gogamedi said, who barely a week ago had slammed the Centre for not banning the movie. On Saturday, the leader’s tone towards the ruling party saw a shift. “The BJP’S door is still open for all organisations of us Rajputs,” Gogamedi said.
PROVIDE PROTECTION FOR RELEASE: HC TO MP JABALPUR/BHOPAL: The Madhya Pradesh HC has directed the state government to provide adequate police protection and support to people involved in exhibition and distribution of Padmaavat and its viewers. It has also directed the government to ensure that no person carries firearms or other articles capable of causing injury or damage of property within 200 metres of cinema halls.