Won't let Padmavati release in MP till objectionable scenes removed: CM Chouhan

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said on Monday that film Padmavati would not be allowed to release in the state unless the objectionable scenes were removed.

"We have been reading about the queen's sacrifice from childhood. Distortion of history will not be tolerated. Unless the objectionable scenes are removed, I will not let the film to be released across the state," he told a gathering after holding a meeting with representatives of Rajput community.

He also announced that a memorial would be built in queen Padmavati's memory.

Earlier in the day, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee tweeted that the 'Padmavati' controversy was a manufactured one to suppress freedom of expression.

"The Padmavati controversy is not only unfortunate but also a calculated plan of a political party to destroy the freedom to express ourselves. We condemn this super emergency. All in the film industry must come together and protest in one voice," the chief minister wrote on Twitter.

West Bengal chief minister's stand in favour of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's film comes amid protests against its release by Rajput groups and some Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders across the country.

Haryana BJP leader, Suraj Pal Amu, on Sunday announced a bounty of Rs. 10 crore for beheading actress Deepika Padukone and director Sanjay Leela Bhansali.

Padmavati was slated to release on December 1; however, the release has been postponed, as the film is yet to receive approval from Central Board of Film Certification.