Don’t watch ‘Padmaavat’, activists say it with roses
Yuva Kshatriya Samaj members offer to refund tickets, if cinegoers cancel their plan to watch the movie
LUCKNOW : In wake of stepped up police security at theatres and multiplexes, self-appointed vigilantes in Lucknow resorted to ‘Gandhigiri’ on Thursday to show their resentment against the screening of controversial Bollywood movie ‘Padmaavat’.
They gave rose buds to cine-goers and requested them to boycott the movie. Some activists of Yuva Kshatriya Samaj even offered to refund tickets, if cinegoers cancelled their plan to watch the movie.
Lucknow screened nearly 50 shows and 84 were scheduled on Friday. All multiplexes and single-screen theatres screened the shows in Lucknow.
On Wednesday, the protestors had resorted to vandalism and violence at multiple places over special screening of the movie after which the show was cancelled at many places.
The impact of this protest was initially visible here when managements of some multiplexes did not screen ‘Padmaavat’ in the morning citing “lack of security.” But by afternoon, with adequate security deployed, most theatres went ahead with the shows.
Phoenix mall in Alambagh, Saharaganj mall and Riverside mall were a few that started screening the movie from 11:20am onwards whereas others including One Awadh Mall, Fun mall and others screened it after 2pm. Barring a few reports of protest, no major incident was reported on the day.
DGP OP Singh directed police chiefs in all 75 districts of UP to maintain law and order and ensure security to cinema halls. Throughout the day, he monitored developments related to the movie.
SSP, Lucknow, Deepak Kumar said proper security was provided to the multiplexes that asked for it. He said at least 18 personnel of PAC, a civil police subinspector and two constables were deployed at the theatres screening the movie. He said the protestors were warned of stern action if they got involved in any type of vandalism or violence.
Earlier in the day, the activists of Yuva Kshatriya Samaj led by former MLC Pradeep Singh staged their protest peacefully in front of Novelty theatre in Lalbagh.
The activists also took out a march from Lalbagh to Hazratganj crossing, requesting people to support the boycott and distributed roses to the visitors.
On Wednesday, vigilante groups had allegedly resorted to vandalism at Inox mall and a youth attempted self-immolation outside Wave multiplex opposing the special screening of the movie.
The special shows were cancelled at Wave, Inox, SRS Mall (all in Gomti Nagar) and Novelty theatre
in Aliganj. But the film was screened at some other places, including Novelty Lalbagh and all PVR cinemas.
“This is the first time that violence took place just ahead of
Republic Day. That shows the brittle law and order in the state,” said BSP chief Mayawati in an apparent reference to the violence that rocked many parts of the state over ‘Padmaavat’.