Padmaavat Controversy : 16,000 women signs letter to PM Modi

Padmaavat Controversy : 16,000 women signs letter to PM Modi

Padmaavat movie release controversy has gone from bad to worse and it is threatening to turn into a major crisis now. Around 16,000 women in Rajasthan have signed a letter seeking permission from the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to commit ‘Jauhar’. This came in the wake of the demand for banning the controversial Bollywood film, ‘Padmaavat’ which is scheduled to be released on January 25. Rajput groups across the country are demanding a ban on the Hindi film. Protestors are holding rallies and forcing wary state governments to ponder over security measures ahead of the release of the film. Amid the protests, 16000 women in Chittorgarh on Monday have signed a letter to PM Modi. The women have threatened to commit suicide if the movie is not banned.

A group had yesterday took out a “jauhar swabhimaan” rally in Chittorgarh against the upcoming movie demanding a complete ban on it. Several women and men, who were part of the rally, were holding swords and shouted slogans against ‘Padmaavat’ filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali.

The rally began from the Chittorgarh fort and culminated at Johar Bhawan in the city, covering a distance of nearly 8km. It was held under the banner of Jauhar Kshatrani Manch. Meanwhile, Shri Rajput Karni Sena’s state chief Mahipal Singh Makrana had urged erstwhile royal families to shut monuments, including forts, under their control till the film is banned. In a video message, Makrana was quoted as saying that the group has spoken to erstwhile royal families seeking their support by closing monuments for tourists as a mark of protest.

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Owing to alleged historical “inaccuracies” in ‘Padmaavat’ that is headlined by Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor and Ranveer Singh – states like Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Haryana had initially called for a ban on the film. But, much to the relief of the filmmaker, the Supreme Court, earlier this week, allowed a country-wide release of the controversial movie on January 25.

The film, starring Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor and Ranveer Singh in lead roles, is based on the saga of the historic battle of 13th century between Maharaja Ratan Singh and his army of Mewar and Sultan Alauddin Khilji of Delhi.
Haryana and Madhya Pradesh governments have not issued any formal order but had stated that they would not allow the exhibition of the film. Maintaining that states were under constitutional obligation to maintain law and order, the apex court had said that this duty also includes providing police protection to persons who are involved in the film, its exhibition and the audience watching it.