R’sthan, MP, Punjab, K’taka CMs stoke fire

Vibha Sharma 

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 20

Everyone loves a good controversy, it seems. And, political parties are reacting to Hindi film ‘Padmavati’ as per respective needs.

No wonder that the controversy is getting bigger despite assurances by the filmmakers that there is nothing in the Sanjay Leela Bhansali movie that could possibly be objectionable to the Rajputs.

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On a day that Chief Ministers of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab and Karnataka joined the ‘Padmavati’ issue, BJP leaders denied any role in the making of the controversy. But at the same time, they say that ‘Padmavati’ will be “a lesson” for filmmakers in the future “not to mess with history or sentiments of a community”.

Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje said the film would not be released till Union I&B Minister Smriti Irani ensured that all necessary changes as desired by Raje through her letter on November 18 are done.

Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan slammed ‘Padmavati’ makers for “distorting facts” about the Rajput queen. “The insult will not be tolerated,” Chouhan said, calling Padmavati ‘rashtra mata’ (mother of the nation).

Chouhan’s compulsions are understandable as he is from the BJP, his state goes to the polls with Rajasthan next year and BJP-ruled Gujarat is in the midst of high-stake elections. But what took everyone by surprise, including the central BJP leaders here, was the support to the protesters from a Congress leader — Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh.

What they deduced from Amarinder’s reaction was: He belongs to a royal family, his sister is married in a royal family of Rajasthan and Punjab has a sizable population from the community. All these factors make it favourable for him to join the anti-‘Padmavati’ club that includes saffron leaders and right-fringe groups.

“Nobody will accept the distortion of history and those who are protesting are rightly doing so,” Amarinder Singh said. His Congress counterpart in Karnataka — Chief Minister Siddaramaiah — came out in support of Padmavati’s lead actress Deepika Padukone who belongs to his state. He asked Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar to take “stringent action” against reported threats to her by a Haryana BJP leader.

The Censor Board has also warned the filmmakers against using pressure tactics for an early release. 

SC refuses to entertain PIL against ‘Padmavati’

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain a PIL seeking deletion of “objectionable” scenes in ‘Padmavati’, saying the prayer was “premature” as the Central Board of Film Certification was yet to examine it.

Quotes

We will not tolerate any distortion of historical facts. The entire country is speaking in one voice that historical facts were distorted (in the movie). If there are scenes breaching the honour of queen Padmavati, then the movie will not be allowed to be exhibited in Madhya Pradesh. — Shivraj Singh Chouhan, MP Chief Minister

Cinematic licence does not give anyone the right to twist historical facts...Those, whose feeling are hurt by distortion of facts, have the right to protest — Amarinder Singh, Punjab Chief Minister

I condemn the culture of intolerance & hate perpetuated by the BJP. Karnataka stands with Deepika Padukone. She is a globally renowned artiste from our state. I call upon the CM of Haryana to take strict action against those holding out threats against her — Siddaramaiah, Karnataka Chief Minister

(Inputs from Yash Goyal in Jaipur)