Hindustan Times ST (Jaipur)

Will do to you what Laxman did to Surpanakha: Sena warns Deepika

- HT Correspond­ent htraj@hindustant­imes.com

OPEN THREAT To protect ‘Rani Padmavati’s honour’, Mahipal Singh Makrana threatens actress with physical harm JAIPUR/KOTA:Protests

against filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s controvers­ial film ‘Padmavati’ continued in Rajasthan on Thursday with Sarv Brahmin Mahasabha holding blood signature campaigns and Shri Rajput Karni Sena threatenin­g actress Deepika Padukone to be cautious.

Padukone plays queen Padmavati in the film, which will release on December 1.

President of Shri Rajput Karni Sena, Mahipal Singh Makrana, on Thursday, referred to Deepika Padukone as ‘Shurpanakh­a’ and asked her to be cautious. In Ramayana, Lakshman had chopped off the nose of Shurpanakh­a, who was Ravana’s sister.

Makrana alleged that Padukone has tried to provoke the Rajput community by stating that Padmavati will be released in the country. In a self-made video, he said, “Rajputs never raise a hand on women but if need be, we will do to Deepika what Lakshman did to Shurpanakh­a.” Rajputs would not lag behind in pursuing the way Lakshmana acted, he said hinting at the Surupnakha nose chopping episode.

“Shri Rajput Karni Sena has now just conveyed a lesson to Deepika Padukone to stop making provocativ­e statements or face the result,” Makrana said.

Makrana, who was in Kota to join Sena’s agitation outside the office of inspector general of police, Kota range, demanded the

Shri Rajput Karni Sena has now just conveyed a lesson to Deepika to stop making provocativ­e statements or face the result.

cancellati­on of FIR against six Sena activists, who were arrested on Tuesday for vandalisin­g a multiplex in Kota in protest of running a trailer of Padmavati.

Makrana and Karni Sena activists later submitted a memorandum to the inspector general of police, Kota Range, to ban Padmavati and cancel the FIR lodged against six Sena activists.

Various organisati­ons, political parties and individual­s have stood up for the Rajput community and have opposed the release of Padmavati over apprehensi­ons that it distorts history in telling the tale of Rajput queen Padmavati. During the shooting of the film earlier this year, members of the Karni Sena had physically assaulted Bhansali in Jaipur.

Alleging that the film distorts historical facts, the Sarv Brahmin Mahasabha on Thursday held a blood signature campaign to stop the film’s release in December. “The film’s director has tampered with historical facts and it will not be tolerated. Padmavati was our country’s pride. To earn profits, filmmakers are adding spice to facts,” alleged Suresh Mishra, state president of the Mahasabha.

He added that BJP leaders, ministers and MPs are making statements for Padmavati but despite they are not creating enough pressure on their own government. “This shows that there is a difference in what they say and do,” he said.

Mishra said that 10,000 people will sign the campaign until November 20 and the next day it will be submitted to the film censor board.

 ?? A H ZAIDI/HT PHOTO ?? Shri Rajput Karni Sena activists demonstrat­e in Kota on Thursday. Sena is demanding a ban on the film Padmawati. they are also demanding cancellati­on of FIR lodged against six Sena activists, who were arrested Tuesday for vandalisin­g a multiplex in Kota.
A H ZAIDI/HT PHOTO Shri Rajput Karni Sena activists demonstrat­e in Kota on Thursday. Sena is demanding a ban on the film Padmawati. they are also demanding cancellati­on of FIR lodged against six Sena activists, who were arrested Tuesday for vandalisin­g a multiplex in Kota.
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