Threat to Mamata over Padmavati row sets Trinamool fuelling heat
KOLKATA : Even as Mamata Banerjee’s unambiguous backing for controversial Padmavati, fetched her a diabolic threat from Haryana BJP leader Suraj Pal Amu, TMC reacted with restrained saying,
We are keeping a watch. No educated person can issue such threats.’’Amu, who called Mamata Banerjee as Ravana’s sister Surpanakha and said she would face the same fate as hers getting ear and nose chopped off. A party insider said: “We didn’t expect that anyone would issue a threat so vile to Chief Minister.’’
Though till now Banerjee to whom the threat was issued, didn’t react (though it’s easier for Banerjee to react in her own style she’s known for), but party’s general secretary Partha Chatterjee said: We are keeping a watch on Haryana leader. Only illiterates can speak in a language, he spoke. People of Bengal will give a fitting reply.’’
Incidentally, Sanjay Lila Banshali directed film Padmavati began courting controversy and wiped up Rajput passion over belittling Rajput womanhood.
And a militant section issued threats to all and Haryana BJP leader earlier issued threats to both film director and actress Deepika Padukone, now he turned to TMC leader and Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for backing Padmavati and welcoming its release in Bengal.
Don’t bring Bengal and Bengalees in a clash with Rajputs over Padmavati, though no one has any right to issue threat of violence in a democracy, but before you take sides in the name of art one need to know if it was historically a correct position,’’ said a former Union Government Culture Department officer.
If physical threats will always be condemned and very strictly punished, if it’s historically not sound, you cannot allow pure populism to distort history, because it puts history at a greater risk,’’ he added.
Thus all three elements in the drama, “politicians, director and militants are all on the wrong side of the fence,’’ said another Bengal professor. “Please don’t put Bengal into a conflict with Rajputs,’’ he added.
