Chouhan says 'Padmavati' not to release in MP, Amarinder backs Rajputs' objections

In more trouble for "Padmavati", Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday said the film will not be released in his state even if it clears the Censor Board, while his Punjab counterpart Amarinder Singh backed the Rajput community for objecting to Sanjay Leela Bhansali's historical drama that is mired in controversy.

While Chouhan announced in Bhopal at an event that the film has "distorted history" and thus cannot be allowed for "release" in his state, the Punjab Chief Minister said it was the right of Rajput people to protest as the film is a "distortion of history which no one will accept".

"If historical facts are distorted, and if anything is shown or said in the movie against the respect of the country's mother Padmavatiji, then that movie cannot be allowed to release in the land of Madhya Pradesh," Chouhan said, eliciting a rousing applause from the audience.

"And I am saying this because people of the country and Madhya Pradesh cannot accept disrespect of their pride," the BJP leader added.

"The insult will not be tolerated," Chouhan said.

He said even if the movie is passed by the Censor Board for release in the country, it won't make it to the screens in the state.

His comment followed a meeting he had with representatives of the Rajput community on Monday morning.

Amarinder Singh, in his comments said: "Anything that is historical event... no one will object. But here they are distorting history," Singh told reporters.

"I have also gone to Chittor and returned and seen all things there... So, this is distortion of history and no one will accept it."

"And if communities are objecting to it then it is their right to object," the Punjab Chief Minister added.

The comments come a day after the release of "Padmavati" was "voluntarily" deferred from its scheduled date of December 1.

On Sunday, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya, had said the film would not be allowed to release in the state unless its "controversial portions were removed".

Even Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje had on Saturday written to Information and Broadcasting Minister Smriti Irani to ensure that "Padmavati" is not released without necessary changes.

The film has been mired in controversy over conjectures that it "distorts history" regarding Rajput queen Padmavati, a contention that Bhansali has repeatedly denied.

Some Hindu groups, mainly the Karni Sena of Rajasthan, have been vigorously protesting against the movie's release while some political outfits have demanded that its release be deferred in view of the Gujarat Assembly elections.

"Padmavati" features Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor and Ranveer Singh in lead roles.

--IANS

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