The violence incited by a Haryana State BJP member over the Padmavati issue has drawn the ire of the State government, which has provided security to film actor Deepika Padukone’s family in Bengaluru.
Malini Krishnamurthy, Additional Commissioner of Police (Bengaluru West), said a police picket has been put up at her family home and security would be tightened should the need arise. “We are also in touch with the actor’s father and will step [things] up to armed security based on inputs,” she said.
Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy said the government was providing security even though the family had not sought it. Police presence will be increased when the actor visits Bengaluru and other parts of the State to promote the film.
“This is a serious assault on freedom of expression. Giving statements inciting crime not only exposes the mindset of those issuing such threats, but is also a criminal offence,” said Mr. Reddy, in a direction to the DG&IGP to provide security cover.
Sources in State intelligence said that the recent protests in Bengaluru by the Rashtriya Rajput Karni Sena, which is at the forefront of the opposition to the film, has increased the perception of threat against the actor in her hometown as well, especially with “rewards” being announced openly for killing her. Over 500 members of the Karni Sena protested against the film and the actor at Freedom Park on November 15.
Ms. Padukone hails from the State and is the daughter of renowned badminton player Prakash Padukone. She is an alumna of Sofia High School and Mount Carmel College in Bengaluru. Her NGO, The Live Love Laugh Foundation (TLLLF), which works towards better care for mental health patients, is also mostly active in Karnataka.
State BJP condemns statements
Meanwhile, the Karnataka unit of the BJP not only distanced itself from the statement of the Haryana BJP functionary announcing a reward for beheading Ms. Padukone, but also strongly condemned it.
Following the announcement of a bounty of ₹5 crore by a Thakur leader in Meerut for beheading director Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Ms. Padukone, the BJP chief media coordinator for Haryana, Suraj Pal Amu, on Sunday doubled the amount, announcing that he was willing to give ₹10 crore.
S. Suresh Kumar, the party’s chief spokesperson in the State, told The Hindu that the statement was not the party’s stand and the functionary was not authorised to speak on its behalf. “The statement is the height of idiocy,” he said.
