Karni Sena continue to oppose 'Padmaavat' film screening

On Wednesday the Gurugram Deputy Commissioner Vinay Pratap Singh stated that the bars and pubs will not be shut in the protest if it may arise on Thursday at the time of the release of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s magnum opus ‘Padmaavat’, “We have already imposed (prohibitory orders under) Section 144 of the CrPC in the city but not directed pubs and bars to shut. All pubs and bars will remain open. The police are undertaking adequate patrolling,” he stated.


A large group of Karni Sena supporters and other outfits opposed to the film staged protests on Wednesday near the Kherki Daula toll plaza on the Delhi-Jaipur national highway. There are more than 40 multiplexes and cinema halls in Gurugram. The chief also said that the anxiety ended when the police removed the protesters from the scene.


But the Karni Sena is still opposing the release of the film. Singh Kalvi insisting that a ‘janta curfew’ will be imposed on theatres screening the movie. “January 25 (the film’s release) may come and go but we won’t let the film release, come what may,” he said. He even rejected the whole thing that the Karni Sena has watched the film ahead of its release and called it a rumour. He also denied the role of the Karni Sena in the violence in Ahmedabad, saying there were many organisations protesting and creating panic in its name. Kalvi also said, “Those who watched the film on the invitation by the censor board a few days back have said that there is a dream sequence between Alauddin Khilji and Rani Padmavati in the film. We have been demanding that there should be no dream sequence and no romantic scene between the two.”


He even said that, “This is not true and we are firm on our stand against the film.” He further said that there are several cases registered against Sanjay Leela Bhansali in different districts of Gujarat for his earlier film ‘Ramleela’. On Wednesday the Chittorgarh fort was closed in view of the deteriorating law and order situation. A heavy police contingent was sent to the fort as some women protesters had vowed to perform ‘jauhar’ (ritual self-immolation). Some women tried to go towards the fort but they were stopped by the police, and later the fort was closed.


Stay tuned for more updates.