Three days ahead of the scheduled release of Sanjay leela Bhansali’s Padmaavat, the Shree Rajput Karni Sena (SRKS) on Monday said it was ready to watch the Bollywood movie to end the deadlock on the issue. The film has been facing protests by Karni Sena and other fringe groups over allegations that historical facts were distorted in the flick.
This is the first time Karni Sena has shown some flexibility in trying to find a solution to the crisis. Despite muscle-flexing and chest-thumping by its leaders, there has not been any spontaneous countrywide unrest against the release of the movie. Karni Sena activists staged protests in several parts of the country and blocked national highways in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, but the response has been feeble. Therefore, it seems the Karni Sena is looking for a face-saver now. Its leaders have opened a window for “reconciliation” in case the Supreme Court does not favourably dispose of the pleas by Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh to ban the screening of the film on the ground of law and order.
“We are ready to watch the film. We never said that we will not watch the film. The filmmaker had assured us one year ago that he will go for a special screening and now he has written for the screening and we are ready for that,” Karni Sena leader lokendra Singh Kalvi, who was in Uttar Pradesh, told PTI over the phone.
Bhansali production had on January 20 written a letter to Karni Sena and Rajput Sabha, Jaipur, inviting them to watch the film and assured that the film showcased the honour and valour of the Rajput community.
Meanwhile, leaders of the Karni Sena met Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and demanded a ban on the film in the State. “I met UP Chief Minister Adityanath today and demanded a ban on Padmaavat,” Kalvi told the media after a 20-minute meeting with the UP CM. People will impose “janata curfew” in cinema halls in UP if the movie is screened, he added.
Kalvi, who listed nearly 40 different objections with regard to the movie, demanded that films on the lives of Maharana Pratap, Shivaji, and other eminent personalities should be made. A large number of people waving saffron flags protested against Padmaavat in front of SRS cinema hall in Gorakhpur and also burnt the effigy of Bhansali, as they raised ‘Jai Sri Ram’ and other slogans. They also submitted a memorandum to the District Magistrate in this regard.
In Delhi, Karni Sena spokesperson Vijendra Singh said, “We have contacted around 100 cinema halls in the National Capital Region and they have given in writing that they will not screen the film.”
While Rajasthan and MP have sought a ban on the movie on the issue of law and order, Gujarat has decided to provide security to theatres willing to screen the movie. A platoon each of the State Reserve Police Force (SRPF) would secure the 10 theatres and multiplexes which have shown willingness to screen Padmaavat, according to a notification issued by the Gujarat police. The notification by the police control room read that a SRPF platoon led by a sub-inspector had been deployed at each of the seven theatres and multiplexes that had decided to screen the film.
Three theatres, which have not yet taken a final decision but have showed willingness to screen the film, have also been provided security cover of a police platoon each.
Meanwhile, the issue is back in the SC, which on January 18 lifted the ban imposed on the screening of the film in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Haryana. On a mention made by the counsels appearing for MP and Rajasthan on Monday, the Bench of Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra and Justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud listed the applications for hearing on Tuesday.
The applications claimed that the State intelligence units have specific inputs to suggest likelihood of a major unrest in various parts of the State at the behest of the Rajput community and supporters of Karni Sena. Inputs suggest that members of the community may indulge in damaging cinema halls, rioting and blocking traffic on major arterial roads, claimed the plea mentioned by Additional Advocate General of Rajasthan SS Shamshery.
The States claimed that Section 6 of the Cinematograph Act empowers them to stop exhibition of any controversial movie on the grounds of possible violation of law and order. They alleged that at the time of passing of the order, the SC did not hear the States which have an equally important duty to preserve law and order. According to the application, the State is duty bound to respond to any crisis in the State about which there is prior intelligence input.
It urged that beginning January 29, by-elections to two lok Sabha and one Assembly seats are to be held in Rajasthan. This itself would require movement of paramilitary forces and police across these seats.