Karni Sena protest disrupts traffic on Pune-Panvel Expressway
NEW DELHI: As the release date approaches, the protests against Padmaavat by the fringe Hindu groups have intensified, especially in the states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh etc. Despite CBFC giving a clean chit to the movie and the Supreme Court allowing its nationwide release, the Shri Rajput Karni Sena, the prime agitator against the movie, is adamant about not allowing the movie to release in India.
The reason for their arrogant determination to not allow the movie to be screened is that they feel Padmaavat insults the Rajput honour and besmirches the legacy of Queen Padmavati.
Interestingly, senior state minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama said such protests were “natural” and that the government was looking for a legal opinion following the Supreme Court’s order.
The primary reason was the rumoured romantic scene between Queen Padmavati and Alauddin Khilji, which the makers have refuted existed in the movie. The interesting bit is that none of the protestors have seen the movie and yet they want to assume that the movie will be insulting their Rajput culture.
A massive protest organised by Karni Sena activists near Vashi late on Monday evening brought disrupted traffic on the Pune-Panvel Expressway. Shouting slogans against the film ” Padmaavat ” , the protestors lit up fire, burnt tyres and attempted Raasta Roko – bringing to halt movement of traffic.
Members of Karni Sena and other Rajput organisations have intensified their protest after Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) allowed the film to be released with certain modifications. States like Gujarat, Haryana, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh have banned the film even though Supreme Court has cleared the path for the release.
Members of the Karni Sena and other Rajput organisations damaged DND flyover toll plaza counters and set ablaze a barrier. The glass windows and computers at the toll booth were broken.
City Superintendent of Police Arun Kumar Singh said that around a dozen protesters were detained and a case lodged after examining CCTV footage. The protesters had assembled at the Greater Noida Pari Chowk and started rally from Greater Noida end to Noida. They were on bikes and cars.
Violent protests by members of the Rajput community were witnessed across Gujarat on Sunday, with agitators damaging buses and blocking roads.Following incidents of protesters damaging and setting buses on fire, the police issued a stern warning and deployed more personnel in the affected areas.
The Shri Rajput Karni Sena today met theatre owners here seeking their cooperation against the screening of upcoming Bollywood movie ‘Padmaavat’ in single screens and multiplexes.
The team “requested” the owners to not screen the movie until the Supreme Court decides on the review petition to be moved by the Rajasthan government, Ravipal Singh Sarecha, a member of the fringe group, said.(With Agency Inputs ).
