Hundreds of activists belonging to various Rajput and Hindu groups gathered in Bengaluru’s Town Hall and marched towards Freedom Park on Wednesday, opposing the release of upcoming Bollywood film Padmavati.
The Rashtriya Rajput Karnika Sena spearheaded the 'Swabhiman Abhiyan' on Wednesday. They had called for an outright ban on Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Padmavati after initially asking for the film to be approved by the community. They claim that the biopic has distorted facts.
They engaged in vile sloganeering against the filmmaker and threatened violence if the film is allowed to release. The biopic starring Deepika Padukone, who portrays the role of the 13th century Rajput queen, is slated to hit the screens across the country on December 1.
Rajput Samaj Karnataka, Akhil Bharatiya Ekta Manch, Maharana Pratap Navayuvak Mandal, Rajput Parishad, Rajput Sabha, Kshatriya Mahasabha, Yuva Hindu Vahini were part of the protests.
“The program was very successful. There was a huge turnout from nationalist groups. If they play with Hindu sentiment, it’s not just theatres that will be burnt down,” threatened Shashikant Sharma of the Hindu Yuva Vahini.
The Supreme Court had already refused to admit a petition demanding a ban on the film. A bench comprising of Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud had on November 11 observed that the court cannot interfere in the matter as the CBFC was yet to certify the film.
The Rajasthan Women’s Commission has approached the Central Board of Film Certification to check if any historical fact has been distorted.
Incidentally, Congress MP and former Union Minister Shashi Tharoor had tweeted saying this controversy “is an opportunity to focus on the conditions of Rajasthani women today ¬ just of queens six centuries ago” adding “Rajasthan’s female literacy among lowest”.
The Sanjay Leela Bhansali film has courted controversy since shooting began.
The set of the movie were attacked twice during the shooting of the film. Recently there have been protests in many parts of north and western India witnessed protests against Padmavati