After a Hindutva organisation put up posters on hoardings in front of theatres, Deepika Padukone-starrer Chhapaak was not screened in theatres across Aligarh on Friday.
The posters in big font with ‘chetavani’ (caution) written on top said that those who would try to screen the movie should get their “insurance” done. “Na dekhunga, na dekhnedunga [won’t watch, won’t allow anybody to watch],” it declared.
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The poster further criticised Ms. Padukone for showing concern for only one side affected by violence at Jawaharlal Nehru University on January 5.
With the names and photos of Pankaj Pandit and Deepak Sharma of Akhand Bharat Hindu Sena printed at the bottom, the poster said Ms. Padukone had thrown acid on the face of nationalism.
Anil Samania, Circle Officer III, Aligarh, told reporters that security had been provided to the theatres. “But theatre owners have decided against screening the film. If they decide to screen, we will provide security,” he said.
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Aligarh has four prominent theatres and at least two, Meenakshi and Great Value Mall, had displayed posters of the film. However, according to local sources, they were replaced with Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior , the other big release of the week.
Samajwadi Party members protested against the move. Ranjeet Chaudhary, district president, Chhatra Sabha, the student wing of the party, said: “The film is about an acid attack victim. On one hand, this government talks of beti bachao, beti padhao , but when Deepika Padukone went to show solidarity with student leader Aishe Ghosh who was beaten up during violence at JNU, she is being targeted,” he said.
In Muzaffarnagar, Bajrang Dal members disrupted the screening of the film at Carnival Cinemas in the heart of the city. Local sources said the members of the right-wing organisation tore the posters of the film and raised slogans against Ms Padukone.
In Noida, Samajwadi Party members alleged that police didn’t allow them to watch the film in Spice Mall in Sector 25.