The Karni Sena on Monday threatened to hold a nationwide protest if the makers of Padmavat went ahead with the film’s planned release on January 25.
Addressing a press conference, Karni Sena leaders said they would not be responsible for the violence that would ensue if the movie hit cinema halls and demanded a nationwide ban on the film. Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan have already banned the film.
Jeevan Singh Solanki, Karni Sena’s Maharashtra secretary, warned of action similar to that of the Bhima-Koregaon violenceearlier this month. The outfit warned cinema owners not to release the movie or face destruction of their property.
“We have been revolting against the movie for two years. Our patience is being tested. Padmavati is being portrayed as a ‘lover’ in the movie. Being Rajput, we will not tolerate her being portrayed in this manner. I warn Sanjay Leela Bhansali not to release the movie. And if he does get it released, the Maharashtra police and government will be responsible for the consequences,” Mr. Solanki said.
“If we have to take the law in our hands to save our pride, so be it,” he said. Mr. Solanki said he had met Central Board Of Film Certification (CBFC) CEO Anurag Srivastava on January 12. He was told that the CBFC had passed the movie after making six cuts, and it was now up to the Central government whether to ban the movie or not.
Mr. Solanki said putting a disclaimer that the film is a work of fiction, and changing the title of the movie does not change its content. “Arvind Singh Mewar, who was also present in the panel invited to review and recommend certification on the film, has seen the movie and said it should not be released and the censor board should not pass it,” he said.
“If we have to burn cinema halls, we will do so. We have been trying to make the government understand our point of view peacefully, but if they do not understand that language, these are the means that we will have to adopt,” Madan Singh Rathore, Karni Sena, President, Mumbai, said.
