RSS, VHP wade into ‘Padmaavat’ controversy; Togadia demands ordinance : The Tribune India

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RSS, VHP wade into ‘Padmaavat’ controversy; Togadia demands ordinance

JAIPUR: After Karni Sena, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Monday announced it would not allow filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s movie ‘Padmaavat’, as controversy rages on over the movie days before its rescheduled release.

RSS, VHP wade into ‘Padmaavat’ controversy; Togadia demands ordinance

VHP Vice-President Praveen Togadia called for an ordinance against the movie in line with the central government’s ordinance on Jallikattu despite the Supreme Court’s orders banning it. File photo



Yash Goyal 
Our Correspondence 
Jaipur, January 22

Both Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad have joined the chorus against release of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s ‘Padmaavat’, days before the move ist scheduled for release.

RSS’s Rajasthan unit said on Monday that free speech did not give filmmakers the right ti play with history.

"It is natural to have freedom of imagination in making historical events interesting in the creation of literature, but, it should (also) be in sync with the dignity and history of the character and public sentiments," Bhagwati Prasad, the state's RSS head, said in a statement.

He claimed that Sufi poet Malik Muhammad Jayasi had expressed his imagination and creativity considering "historical facts".

Holding that fiction, narratives, drama, writing and filming has been a long tradition in the country, Prasad termed it "wrong to play with the history" in the name of freedom of expression.

"The government should take control of such incidents, keeping in mind the public sentiments," the statement read, adding that society is also free to oppose and raise public awareness in a democratic manner in any kind of "historical tampering".

Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) said on Monday it would not allow filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s movie ‘Padmaavat’.

VHP Vice-President Praveen Togadia called for an ordinance against the movie in line with the central government’s ordinance on Jallikattu despite the Supreme Court’s orders banning it.

 “If Centre could bring in the ordinance for Jallikattu against the Supreme Court's ban, why not it is brought on this controversial movie that has not only hurt the sentiments of Rajputs community but also of entire Hindu community by distorting historical facts", Togadia said at Jaipur International Airport, where his flight was taking a stopover.

"VHP urge the central government and Prime Minister Narendra Bhai to bring the ordinance to save the prestige, history and glory of Hindus including Rajputs against the SC order which allowed its screening on January 25.”

“VHP-Bajrangdal would not allow release of this very film at any cost.”

Hindu right-wing organisations such as VHP and Bajrang Dal have joined fringe group Karni Sena in demanding a ban on the movie, which is scheduled for release on January 25 after almost two months of delay.

Protests over the movie continue, and have even escalated to violence, despite the Supreme Court’s order earlier this month suspending a ban on the movie called by six states in the country. The Supreme Court refused to ban the movie citing free speech. 

Vandalism and arson were reported in parts of Madhya Pradesh and Haryana, both of which had banned the movie's release. 

Rajputs have been objected to the portrayal of a Rajput queen—Rani Padmavati, also known as Rani Padmini, who rendered the film its original name ‘Padmavati’— in the movie and have demanded a ban. Her existence however is disputed by several historians.

The Central Board of Film Certification passed the movie earlier this year, but with certain changes, among them the name of the movie to ‘Padmaavat’.  

The Karni Sena has warned of intensifying protests, and recently rejected the filmmakers’ invitation of a special preview of the movie. The fringe group has threatened that women of the community would commit ‘jauhar’—an act of self-immolation undertaken by women of some old Indian kingdoms to avoid enslavement or rape in face of certain defeat of their army—if the film was released as scheduled. With agencies

 

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