Ahead of the screening of controversial movie ‘Padmaavat’, security has been tightened in Haryana with the state police deploying additional force at cinema halls and multiplexes where the film is to be screened on Thursday.
Even as protests continued in various parts of Haryana against the screening of the movie and a bus was also torched by protestors in Gurugram, the State police claimed to have made foolproof security arrangements to maintain law and order situation.
The protesters - associated with the Karni Sena and other Rajput groups – on Wednesday torched a state-run bus, blocked the Delhi-Jaipur national highway in Gurugram, held protests at Palwal and Mahendragarh.
Earlier, the Karni Sena activists had vandalised malls in Kurukshetra and Gurugram demanding a ban on Sanjay leela Bansali directed Padmaavat.
As a precautionary measure, prohibitory orders have been issued in areas near multiplexes and cinema halls at a few places in the state, including Gurugram, Panchkula, Sirsa and Kurukshetra.
There are also reports of multiplexes in Karnal and Panipat deciding not to screen the movie in view of protests.
In view of threats of violence by groups protesting against the screening of the movie, a high level meeting was held by Chief Secretary DS Dhesi to review security arrangements in the state. Additional Chief Secretary, Home, SS Prasad and DGP BS Sandhu were present at the meeting.
“Orders have been issued to district police chiefs to ensure that nobody takes law into his hands,” said ACS Home SS Prasad.
He said that we have directed the police to deploy appropriate and adequate forces around cinema halls and multiplexes in the state.
DGP BS Sandhu while talking to the mediapersons said that SPs have been told to take necessary action to maintain law and order and deploy additional forces.
The district administrations depending upon the situation have also imposed (prohibitory orders under) Section 144 of the CrPC near theatres, he said.
The DGP said that we will comply to the orders of Supreme Court. All deputy commissioners and superintendents of the police are asked to ensure that no problem arises in the screening of the movie, said he.
Sandhu also appealed to the citizens especially Rajput community, that they should not disrupt the peaceful situation and should not bring any kinds of weapons to the theatres where the film is being screened.
Reacting to the incident of miscreants torching a bus in Gurugram against the release of Padmavaat, Sandhu said that persons involved in the incident will not be spared and strict legal action will be taken against those disrupting the law and order situation in Haryana.
The protesters are claiming that the film distorts history and portrays the character of Rani Padmavati in “poor light”. On the other hand, the filmmakers have denied the allegations.
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar lal Khattar had on Monday said “If someone decides not to screen the film due to the appeals made, it will be very good. But if someone wishes to screen the film, we will provide the security.”
Following this, the Cabinet Minister Anil Vij had made an appeal to the people to not watch the movie if they are patriots.
The Supreme Court’s recent order had paved the way for the all-India release of the movie. The Apex Court had stayed notifications and orders issued by Gujarat, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan prohibiting the exhibition of 'Padmaavat'.
The Central Board of Film Certification had cleared the movie along with some modifications on December 30 and film’s title Padmavati was changed to Padmaavat.
The film starring Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor and Ranveer Singh in the lead roles has remained in the controversy since last year over the alleged distortion of historical facts in the movie. While Ranveer is essaying the role of Alauddin Khilji, Shahid plays Maharawal Ratan Singh and Deepika plays Padmini, the Rajput queen in Padmaavat.