Protesters block entry to Raj fort
PADMAVATI ROW Demanding ban on film, Rajput outfits stop tourists at Chittorgarh Fort, threaten to stop train Palace on Wheels JAIPUR/HISAR/PATNA: The producers have ₹150 crore to lose. What do the protestors have to lose in the end? But in India, we try to resolve every issue through dialogue
The protests against the release of Bollywood movie Padmavati continued in different parts of the country with members of Rajput outfits blocking the entry to Rajasthan’s Chittorgarh Fort on Friday and threatening to stop the operations of super luxury train ‘Palace on Wheels’.
Barricading the entry to Chittorgarh Fort, a world heritage site that houses queen Padmini’s palace, members of the Sarv Samaj Sangathan said that by showing actress Deepika Padukone — as Padmini— dancing in a courtyard, the filmmakers had “crossed” the limits of “dramatic license”
“A dharna demanding a ban on Padmavati is continuing for the last eight days at Padan pole. The Chittorgarh Fort will be closed for tourists today (Friday),” the group’s president Ummed Singh said.
However, Chittorgarh superintendent of police Prashan Kumar Khamsera said the fort was not officially closed.
“We have been informed by the protesters that entry to the fort will be blocked for tourists. We have made ample security arrangements to deal with the situation,” he said.
Members of another Rajput outfit, the Rajput Karni Sena, threatened to stop the Palace on Wheels if the film was released without their clearance. The group has continued to take out demonstrations against the movie, accusing director Sanjay Leela Bhansali of distorting historical facts. Rajasthan’s ruling BJP and the Congress have come out in support of the protests.
However, Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation (RTDC) managing director Pradeep Kumar Borad ruled out any change in the Palace on Wheels’ operations and said the train would continue to operate on its usual circuit.
There have been wide spread protests against the movie ever since its trailer was released earlier this month. The Rajasthan government has set up an official committee to view the movie before taking a decision on whether it will be allowed to hit the screens in the state.
PROTESTS SPREAD Although the agitations against the movie originated in Rajasthan, they have now reached others states, particularly those in the Hindi heartland.
In Haryana’s Hisar, the Karni Sena took out a protest march and burnt Bhansali’s effigies on Friday. The protesters also handed over a memorandum demanding a complete ban on the film’s screening.
“Sanjay Leela Bhansali made this movie without knowing proper facts about rani Padmavati. Bhansali is making a mockery of history,” said Bhawani Singh, head of Karni Sena’s local unit.
In Patna, Karni Sena chief Lokendra Singh Kalvi said they will not tolerate Padmavati’s depiction as Allauddin Khilji’s lover and added that they had the support of other organisations in their opposition to the film.
“I will request Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take a stand and stop this film from being released. The Centre needs to decide what has to be done here,” Kalvi said.
Earlier on Thursday, a member of the Karni Sena had said that if need arises, they would also take against Deepika Padukone. FRATERNITY’S SUPPORT In the face of continued protests, Bhansali received support from the Bollywood fraternity with director Rahul Rawail stating that the filmmaker had the right to re-interpet history.
“Is he (Bhasali) making a historical or a semi-historical film? Either way, he has the right to re-interpet history according to his imagination,” he said and added that Bhansali “knows what he’s doing. Please trust his judgement”.