New Delhi/Ahmedabad/Chandigarh: Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said on Wednesday that film ‘Padmavati’ was “hurting sentiments” and would not be screened in the poll bound state till issues were resolved even as a parliamentary panel sought a report from the I&B ministry and CBFC on the matter.
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said that a call on allowing the Sanjay Leela Bhansali directed period drama in his state would be taken after the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) decides on it.
The row over the Bollywood flick, meanwhile, continued to simmer with the Shri Rajput Karni Sena demanding that its reels be “consigned to the flames of Jauhar”.
In Lucknow, a complaint was filed in a court seeking prosecution against Bhansali for showing the film to three journalists without the censor nod.
BJP MP Shatrughan Sinha waded in questioning what he called the “silence” of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Information and Broadcasting Minister Smriti Irani.
Former CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat, in an editorial in party organ ‘Peoples’ Democracy’, compared the protesters with cow vigilantes, and said “mob rule” had become one of the “hallmarks of the Modi raj”.
In Ahmedabad, Chief Minister Rupani joined counterparts from BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan in expressing reservations about the film.
The Government of Gujarat will not allow Bollywood movie ‘Padmavati’ to be released in the state as it is hurting sentiments of Rajputs, he announced.
“We can’t allow our history to be distorted. We believe in freedom of speech and expression but any foul play with our great culture is not tolerated,” the Chief Minister said.
He referred to the upcoming state polls and said the government had taken the decision in the interest of law and order as it did not want any row.
“There are issues with the film, our sympathy is with those who are protesting against the film and that is the reason we will not allow its release in the state till those issues are resolved,” Rupani said in Ahmedabad.
In Chandigarh, Haryana Chief Minister Khattar, however, chose to wait for the censor board’s decision in the matter.
“The government will take a call upon the screening of Padmavati after the decision by CBFC,” Khattar said adding that nobody would be allowed to hurt sentiments.
