Battle lost in SC, 2 Karni Senas vow to continue war
Rashtriya Rajput Karni Sena says it will file an appeal before a division bench of the apex court, Shri Rajput Karni Sena calls for ‘janata curfew’ of cinema halls on January 25
JAIPUR: Rashtriya Rajput Karni Sena will file an appeal before a division bench of the Supreme Court seeking complete ban on ‘Padmaavat’, the caste group’s president said hours after the apex court paved way for a nationwide release of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s film.
“We will also approach the President (to demand ban on screening of ‘Padmaavat’) ... We shall never allow the movie to be screened,” Sena president Sukhdev Singh Gogamedi said in a video message.
He said that while a common man keeps running from pillar to post for months to get a hearing date, in this case, Bhansali’s plea was heard within a day of filing of the writ.
“How can you deliver the verdict by forcefully imposing the decision on state governments? This is more like killing democracy... What is the use of forming governments if they are not allowed to take decisions? Let the Supreme Court rule the country,” he said in the video.
Gogamedi declared that thousands of women would perform jauhar (self-immolation) in Chittorgarh on January 24 to protest against the movie.
“We have already sent a letter to the Prime Minister and will soon be meeting the President in this regard,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Shri Rajput Karni Sena, another caste group that hit headlines after it ransacked the movie’s set in Rajasthan, has called for “janata curfew” after the SC order.
“Our stand remains the same and we want a nationwide ban on the film. The SC should also have heard us. The Centre has the power to reverse the CBFC decision. If the movie is released, then the Rajput community will be out on the
› What is the use of forming governments if they are not allowed to take decisions? Let the Supreme Court rule the country...
SUKHDEV SINGH GOGAMEDI, chief, Rashtriya Rajput Karni Sena
streets. We will hold discussions and take a decision on whether to file an appeal in the Supreme Court,” its president Mahipal Singh Makrana said.
“There will be ‘janata curfew’. Cinema hall owners are supporting us. The government, court, CBFC and Bhansali will be responsible if there are any law and order problems.”
“We have given a call for a janta curfew on January 25 where our supporters will urge citizens not to watch the film,” said Shri Rajput Karni Sena’s founder-patron Lokendra Singh Kalvi, who was in Ujjain, on Thursday. He added that the details of the agitation and further course of action will be announced in Mumbai on Friday.
Rajput Sabha president Giriraj Singh Lotawara was, however, cautious in his reaction. “Let me go through the judgment first and only then will I be able to comment on it,” he said.
Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court stayed the ban on the film imposed by four states.
Governments of Haryana, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan had declared that they will not allow screening of the movie, which stars Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor and Ranveer Singh in lead roles.
In Chittorgarh, members of the Rajput community expressed shock over the Supreme Court order.
Narpat Singh, treasurer, Jauhar Smriti Sansthan, said the SC order has hurt their sentiments and the protest against the film was “intensifying day by day”.
President of Jauhar Shatrani Manch, a group representing Rajput women in Chittorgarh, Manjushri Shaktawat, said they will take out a rally on January 21 and take an oath to perform ‘Jauhar’ (self-immolation) on January 24.
The film, based on the legend of Rani Padmini, a 13th century Hindu Rajput queen, mentioned in Padmavat, an Avadhi poem written by Sufi poet Malik Muhammad Jayasi in 1540, has been facing protests from various groups, for allegedly tampering with historical facts.