Sir — Between Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upbeat and statesman-like speech in Davos and the 69th Republic Day parade that was witnessed by leaders of all 10 Asean nations, comes the Karni Sena’s violent protest over the release of Padmaavat. There’s violence on the streets with cars getting torched and window panes broken just to express anger over the film that has been approved by the Censor Board and its screening allowed by the Supreme Court.
Even school children travelling in a bus were assaulted on the outskirts of the country’s capital. One must understand, every community has its own idea of special status. The Rajputs certainly are entitled to it — and, in fact, the movie celebrates every virtue the Rajputs hold dear. The film extols the Rajputs — venerating their honour and moral codes while vilifying the invader/outsider (Alauddin Khilji) as a depraved, one-note antagonist. How is the Karni Sena and its ilk any different from what they imagine Aurangzeb to beIJ Based purely on recent events, the Karni Sena must be punished and also outlawed.