SC rejects Raj, MP pleas on Padmaavat, says abide by order

NEW DELHI/AHMEDABAD: Violence erupted in Gujarat’s capital Ahmedabad on Tuesday night, hours after the Supreme Court summarily rejected petitions by two other states, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, to modify its own order so as to allow them to reinstate a ban on the film Padmaavat.

Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, both ruled by the BJP, claimed that if the movie is released as scheduled on Thursday, it could lead to a law and order breakdown, especially by groups that have threatened mass suicide and protests. But the court said it will not “back down” and that right to speech and expression couldn’t be compromised.

“Your statement implies you are incapable of maintaining law and order. You first implement our order. Nobody can stop the release of this movie. You tell these people not to watch it,” a bench led by Chief Justice Dipak Misra told additional solicitor general Tushar Mehta, who represented the two states.

“This kind of an expression by you gives an impetus to people for carrying out such activities,” the bench added. Meanwhile, protesting Rajput groups demanded the central government pass an ordinance banning the film.

After the court’s order, the states have been preparing to deal with protestors.

In Gurgaon, police forces were deployed outside malls and multiplexes and the administration clamped Section 144, which prohibits the assembly of people with firearms or other weapons. The orders will be in place until Sunday.

But in Ahmedabad, also ruled by the BJP, malls and theatres were ransacked and private vehicles set on fire after a candle march by fringe group Shri Rajput Karni Sena turned violent. Large flames were seen in front of two malls with in-house multiplexes -- Acropolis and Himalaya – by 10 pm.

“It is disheartening to know that the Supreme Court hasn’t respected the public sentiments,” said Lokendra Singh Kalvi, the founder of the Karni Sena, the organisation that has been at the forefront of the agitation.

The movie, based on a 16th century poem, is facing the ire of Rajput groups over the depiction of legendary queen Padmini. The protesters allege distortion of history – a charge denied by the filmmakers. Historians are divided on whether the queen existed.

Earlier this month, the film was cleared by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) – a fact noted by the SC – after its title was changed from Padmavati. But the protesters have rampaged on, and four states, Rajasthan, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, had banned the film before the top court stayed their orders.

Protests continued to rage in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh though police officials assured cinema owners of security. “Now, we have no other alternative but to ensure law and order situation in the state and that we will do,” Rajasthan home minister Gulab Chand Kataria said after the top court decision.