‘Padmavati’ row: Rajputs to hold symbolic protest today

JAMMU:Acting on the row over the alleged distortion of historical facts in the much-publicised Bollywood movie ‘Padmavati’, members of the Rajput community, under the aegis of Shri Amar Kshatriya Rajput Sabha, today threatened not to allow its screening in the state.

A file photo

Tribune News Service

Jammu, November 17

Acting on the row over the alleged distortion of historical facts in the much-publicised Bollywood movie ‘Padmavati’, members of the Rajput community, under the aegis of Shri Amar Kshatriya Rajput Sabha, today threatened not to allow its screening in the state.

Youth wing of the sabha has decided to hold a symbolic protest tomorrow to express solidarity with the community members in other parts of the country, who are agitating on the ‘highly emotive’ issue.

Not only Rajputs, some other communities have also demanded ban on the screening of the Sanjay Leela Bhansali directed movie, which is scheduled to release on December 1.

A meeting of the Rajput community members was held today to discuss the situation in different parts of the country due to protests against the movie. “We have already asked the authorities to ban the release of this movie in J&K. If our demand is not taken seriously by those at the helm of the affairs, we will be forced to take some extreme step to stop its screening in cinema halls,” Narayan Singh, president of Shri Amar Kshatriya Rajput Sabha told The Tribune after the meeting.

“Tomorrow’s proposed protest will be held only to give a message to the authorities that like other parts of the country, people of J&K will also not allow the release of the controversial movie in which the history has been distorted to demonise those who had laid down their lives while fighting with invaders,” he added.

Although the Rajput community members in J&K have not seen any promo of the movie, they pointed out that it had been learnt from different quarters that there was a dream sequence in the movie wherein Rani Padmavati has been shown romancing with Alauddin Khilji.

“This is glaring example of distorting history and heinous portrayal of Padmavati,” he said and warned that there was no reason to allow such a movie in the theatres, which has twisted historical facts just to mint money.

Sources said members of the Rajput community were in touch with other communities in Jammu so as to mobilise different sections of the society against the movie. Some other social groups, including Hindu organisations, have already supported the ongoing agitation launched by the Rajput community against the movie.