Rajput groups take up arms against Padmaavat release
THREAT OF VIOLENCE At least 200 Rajput women march with swords, present memoranda seeking nationwide ban
JAIPUR: Rajput groups across the country demanding a ban on Hindi film Padmaavat dug in their heels on Sunday, holding rallies and forcing wary state governments to ponder over security measures ahead of the movie’s release on January 25.
In Rajasthan, at least 200 Rajput women marched with swords in Chittorgarh town for a ‘Swabhimaan’ (self-respect) rally and ratcheted up the pressure with memoranda to ban the film or give them permission to end their lives.
Marching under the banners of Jauhar Kshatrani Manch, Shri Rajput Karni Sena, and Jauhar Smriti Sansthan, the women gave government officials memoranda addressed to the President, Prime Minister, Rajasthan governor, and chief minister.
“They gave us the memoranda seeking a countrywide ban on the film,” said Suresh Kumar Khatik, sub-divisional officer of Chittorgarh.
The Rajasthan government has indicated it would file a review petition on Monday in the Supreme Court against the top court’s order that stayed the decision of some states to ban the film’s screening.
The protesters allege filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s movie hurts the sentiments of the Rajput community as it distorts history of Rajput queen Padmini. Bhansali has denied the charges.
Incidentally, the women’s ‘Swabhimaan’ rally started from Jauhar Sthal in Chittorgarh fort, where queen Padmini and 16,000 other Rajput women are said to have committed jauhar (self-immolation) in the year 1303, preferring to die rather than be captured by Alauddin Khilji, the then Muslim king of Delhi.
Bhansali’s ₹150-crore movie is based on Padmavat, a poem written by Sufi poet Malik Muham- mad Jayasi about 500 years ago, which gives an account of a Rajput queen of Chittor choosing to kill herself rather than be captured by Khilji.
Historians are divided over whether the queen existed. Many Rajputs believe she did and accuse Bhansali of portraying her in a bad light.
The Jauhar Smriti Sansthan launched a two-day seminar titled ‘Padmini Ek Vastavikta’ in Chittorgarh to “bring out the historical truth about Queen Padmini”.
The Shri Rajput Karni Sena threatened to shut the doors of Amer and Nahargarh forts in Jaipur to protest the film’s release.
“To protect Rajput pride, we will shut the doors of our forts,” said Mahipal Singh Makrana, president of the Karni Sena, who also called the Supreme Court order a fatwa (a ruling on a point of Islamic law given by a recognised authority).
On January 18, the Supreme Court stayed orders by four states banning Padmaavat, pav- ing the way for the film’s nationwide release.
Makrana had earlier urged soldiers of Rajput, Sikh and Jat regiments not to pick up arms for a day in protest. “You defend the country throughout the year. For one day, defend the honour of your sisters and daughters,” he urged soldiers of what he called “Kshatriya” regiments.
The Rajput body also called for a ‘janta’ (public) curfew across the country on January 25. Members of Karni Sena, which is spearheading the campaign against the film for more than a year, also met cinema hall owners and urged them not to screen the film.
IN NORTH GUJARAT, BUS SERVICES SUSPENDED
The Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation (GSRTC) suspended its bus services in northern parts of the state following violent protests against Padmaavat’s release.
GSRTC secretary KD Desai said, “Owing to the attacks on state buses in some parts of north Gujarat yesterday, we have temporarily suspended our operations for Gandhinagar, Himmatnagar, Mehsana and Banaskantha. The services for other destinations, such as in central and south Gujarat, are on as per the schedule.”
PROTESTERS THREATEN HALL OWNERS IN MP
Kshatriya Mahasabha leaders and workers staged a demonstration in Gwalior and presented roses to cinema hall owners, requesting them not to screen Padmaavat, but warned them of consequences if they did.
“We staged our protest in a Gandhian way. However, if the cinema hall owners screen the movie, they will be responsible for any situation,” said Ramkumar Singh Sikarwar, district president of Kshatriya Mahasabha. On Saturday, Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had said that the government might move the Supreme Court to ensure that the movie is banned in Madhya Pradesh.
PROTESTERS TALK TO THEATRE OWNERS
Various Rajput and Hindu bodies staged demonstrations across Uttar Pradesh, where the BJP government is yet to take an official stand on the movie’s release.
“Har woh cinema ghar jalega jisme Padmaavat chalega (All cinema halls screening Padmaavat would be set on fire),” chanted Rajput youths protesting in Lucknow’s Hazratganj.
Protests were held in Noida outside some multiplexes while in Shamli and Gorakhpur, effigies of Bhansali and the film’s actors were torched.
“Our youth are talking to cinema hall owners. We respect the Supreme Court, but at the same time, the society is feeling hurt at the manner in which our sentiments have been hurt by the cinematic depiction of the character of a queen who is revered by Rajputs,” said Pratapgarh MP Harivansh Singh, the national chief of the All India Kshatriya Mahasabha.