Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on Monday asked state Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy to make necessary security arrangements for actor Deepika Padukone and her family in the wake of death threats against her.
Following this, Home Minister Reddy had asked the Director General of Police and Bengaluru Police Commissioner to take all steps to ensure Deepika and her family are not troubled.
Deepika and filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali have received death threats for their upcoming Hindi movie ‘Padmavati’. Members of the Rajput community allege that the film shows the Chittoor queen in “bad light”.
The CM said, “Deepika has done her acting based on what her director has said. Don't see how she is to be blamed for any controversy. If there is any distortion of history, or any insult to Rajputs, the central government can give suitable direction to CBFC.”
“We can understand the mindset of some of the people who have gone about to rebel against the film or threatened to take law into their hands without this basic understanding. Such a call for protests is against democracy and also a propaganda for criminal activities that deserve punishment,” the CM said.
The CM, earlier in the day, had tweeted on the matter, criticising the BJP.
Backing state Energy Minister DK Shivakumar’s tweet, the CM said, “I condemn the culture of intolerance & hate perpetuated by @BJP4India . Karnataka stands with @deepikapadukone. She is a globally renowned artist from our state. I call upon the CM of Haryana @mlkhattar to take strict action against those holding out threats against her.”
I condemn the culture of intolerance & hate perpetuated by @BJP4India .
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) November 20, 2017
Karnataka stands with @deepikapadukone .She is a globally renowned artist from our state.
I call upon the CM of Haryana @mlkhattar to take strict action against those holding out threats against her. https://t.co/d8rahml5MZ
Shivakumar, in his tweet, had lashed out at the BJP after its media coordinator in Haryana had offered to double the bounty offered by a Meerut man, on Deepika’s head.
Last week, a Meerut resident had offered a bounty of Rs 5 crore on Deepika’s and director Sanjay’s heads. On Sunday, Surajpal Amu, the BJP’s Chief Media Coordinator in Haryana, doubled this figure to Rs 10 crore.
“Want to congratulate the Meerut youth for announcing Rs 5 crore bounty for the beheading of Deepika and Bhansali. We will reward the ones beheading them with Rs 10 crore, and also take care of their family’s needs,” ANI quoted Surajpal as saying.