SC refuses to stay release of Padmavati, protests mount
JAIPUR: Even as the Supreme Court on Friday refused to stay release of the film ‘Padmavati’, controversy continues to grow, with the Rajput organisations, former royal families, even the state government here opposing the so-called misrepresentation of history .
The apex court asked the apellants to approach the Censor Board. “This court should not exercise its writ jurisdiction in such situation,” the bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Mishra , and justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud.
In light of the growing protests, the state government has decided to form a committee to view the
THE APEX COURT ASKED THE APELLANTS TO APPROACH THE CENSOR BOARD.
film ahead of its December 1 release. Rajasthan home minister Gulab Chand Kataria said the committee will see the film and identify scenes if any that could potentially hurt the sentiments of the public. Kataria appealed to people to maintain law and order till such time.
The BJP government no doubt sees this as an opportunity to reach out to the Rajput community, which is upset with the government over several issues.
The encounter of gangster Anandpal Singh, the stand-off between the government and the former Jaipur royal family over the Rajmahal Palace hotel land issue and denial of ticket to senior BJP leader Jaswant Singh in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections have created tensions between the community and the BJP government. Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, who hails from Rajasthan, and some BJP politicians in Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh have also spoken out saying that society would not accept character assassination of revered historical figures. Friday saw protests by Rajputs even in Thane, Maharashtra.
Karni Sena initiated the protests while director Sanjay Leela Bhansali was shooting the movie in Jaipur in January, and Sena activists even vandalised his sets forced stoppage of the shoot.
Karni Sena president Lokendra Singh Kalvi said, “Bhansali’s team has been in touch with us for watching the film, but we had asked them to show it to historians; they have not complied.”
Erstwhile royal families too have opposed the movie. Diya Kumari, BJP MLA and member of the former Jaipur royal family, said any attempt to distort history or twist facts would be a collective insult to Indian women. The royals of Karauli, Bikaner, Udaipur and Chomu too have taken a similar stand on the issue.
Vishvendra Singh of the Bharatpur royal family, a Congress MLA and Jat leader, wants a sedition case against Bhansali. He said the Jat community will oppose the film in Rajasthan.