Violent threats unacceptable: V-P
Vice President Venkaiah Naidu has said that giving violent threats and announcing rewards for physical harm was not acceptable in a democracy.
Not directly referring to the controversy surrounding Bollywood film Padmavati, but films and art in general, he warned against undermining the rule of law in the country.
Naidu, at a literary festival here on Saturday, said there is now a new problem over some films where people feel the contents have hurt the sentiments of some religious groups or communities, leading to protests.
He said while protesting, some people go overboard and announce rewards.
“Whether these fellows have that much money or not, I doubt. Everyone is announcing ~1 crore reward. Is it so easy to have ~1 crore? This is not acceptable in a democracy. You have the right to protest in a democratic manner, go to the appropriate authorities...you cannot physically obstruct and can’t give violent threats. Let us not undermine the rule of law,” he said.
The vice president also warned against selective condemnation and said it was wrong to link it to religion.
Naidu read out names of previously banned films like Garam Hawa, Kissa Kursi Ka and Aandhi.
His remarks, however, assume significance as they come amid protests by Rajputs against Padmavati, alleging that the movie distorts history and announcing ~10 crore for beheading its director Sanjay Leela Bhansali and actor Deepika Padukone even as historians remain divided on whether the figure it’s based on even existed.