Anti-'Padmaavat' protests intensify in Rajasthan

Protests against the release of "Padmaavat" intensified in Rajasthan on Tuesday soon after the Supreme Court dismissed a plea by the Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh governments seeking a ban on the film owing to the deteriorating law and order situation in their states.

From Jaipur to Jaisalmer, the protests, led by the Shri Rajput Karni Sena and other Rajput associations, were seen in different locations.

In Jaipur, members of Rajput associations gathered in front of Vaibhav Multiplex where they met the cinema hall owners and requested them not to screen the film.

They also met cinema hall owners in Chittaurgarh, Udaipur, Pokhran, Jodhpur, Jalaur, Bhilwara, Ajmer, Churu, Jhunjhunu, Shri Ganganagar and other cities.

Sawai Madhopur observed a bandh on Tuesday on a call by the Karni Sena. A rally was also taken out in this city where hundreds of members participated.

Highway 144 was blocked by the Karni Sena in Pokhran and tyres were burnt to protest the proposed release of the film.

One of the members of the Karni Sena confirmed that a chakka jam (in which roads are blocked) will be staged in different parts of the country on Thursday for a few hours.

A call for a 'janta curfew' has also been given in this context on the same day.

He said that advance bookings have not started in Rajasthan and Gujarat and even in some parts of Bihar, Punjab and Haryana.

Another source said that a bandh has been called in Chittaurgarh on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the Rajasthan Police have assured that all measures will be taken to ensure the peaceful release of the film in the meeting called by the state government soon after the Supreme Court's verdict.

The film is set to release nationwide on Thursday. The Karni Sena and other fringe groups claim Sanjay Leela Bhansali's period drama distorts history.

--IANS

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