Violent threats not acceptable in democracy: Venkaiah Naidu

New Delhi, November 25

Amid the Padmavati row, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu on Saturday said that giving violent threats and announcing rewards for physical harm is not acceptable in a democracy.

Not directly referring to the controversy, but films and art in general, he warned against undermining the rule of law in the country.

Naidu, at a literary festival here, said there is now a new problem over some films where people felt that they had hurt the sentiments of some religions or communities and that had led to protests.

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He said while protesting some people went overboard and announced rewards. “Whether these fellows have that much money or not, I doubt. Everyone is announcing Rs 1 crore reward. Is it so easy to have Rs 1 crore?

“This is not acceptable in a democracy. You have the right to protest in a democratic manner, go to the appropriate authorities...you cannot physically obstruct and can’t give violent threats. Let us not undermine the rule of law,” he said.

Stressing that he was not talking about a particular film but in general, Naidu read out names of previously banned films like ‘Garam Hawa’, ‘Kissa Kursi Ka’ and ‘Aandhi’.

His remarks, however, assume significance as they come amid protests by many groups against Sanjay Leela Bhansali directed ‘Padmavati’, alleging that the movie distorts history.

Historians are divided on whether Rani Padmavati even existed.

Some leaders and groups have also reportedly announced a bounty for beheading Bhansali and the female lead Deepika Padukone.

“You have no right to take law into your own hands. At the same time, you don’t have the right to hurt the sentiments of others,” Naidu said.

The Vice President also warned against selective condemnation and said it was wrong to link it to religion.

He said there was a difference between religion and culture. While religion is a way of worship, culture is a way of life, he said.

On incidents of dissent, Naidu said while dissent was agreeable, disintegration is not.

He said these incidents, taking place in the country, needed to be identified, isolated and dealt with firmly and that according to him was a “challenge”.

He said people had to live together irrespective of caste, creed, sex and religion, adding that India was one despite the differences.

“This is India’s specialty and we have to uphold this specialty in young minds through literature, caricature, cinema, through art...the central theme (of all these) should be the well-being of all,” he said.

“You have to accept majority...tolerance has to be there for the people’s mandate,” he said. PTI