Protests continue over 'Padmavati' in Rajasthan

Protests over Sanjay Leela Bhansali's movie "Padmavati" continued to rock Rajasthan as protesters blocked entry to the Kumbhalgarh fort in Rajsamand on Saturday while protests were witnessed in some other towns and cities.

"Hundreds of protesters on Saturday blocked entry for a few hours to Kumbhalgarh Fort. It was a peaceful protest and no untoward incident was reported," SHO Kelwara Yogesh Chauhan told IANS on phone.

Protesters shouted slogans against Bhansali and in speech after speech demanded a ban on the movie. They said they will send memorandums to the President of India and Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting requesting a ban on "Padmavati".

Police had taken measures to deal with any untoward incident.

Kumbhalgarh fort, situated in Rajsamand district, is one of the prominent forts of Rajasthan. It is the birth place of famous Rajput king Maharana Pratap.

Reports of protests also came in from Sikar where women associated with the Karni Sena held swords in their hands as a mark of protest. They also shouted slogans against Bhansali and demanded ban on the film.

In Mundru town in Sikar district, Brahmins protested against the film while here in Jaipur a protest was organised by some people against the film.

A Karni Sena leader on Thursday threatened actress Deepika Padukone, who plays the lead in the movie, with physical harm over her "provocative statements".

Deepika, in an interview to IANS, had said: "The only people we are answerable to is the censor board, and I know and I believe that nothing can stop the release of this film."

A Brahmin group on Thursday conducted a signature campaign in blood demanding a ban on the film here.

Even the dargha diwan of Khawaja Moinuddin Chishti Dargah in Ajmer has issued a statement requesting a ban.

Activists of the Karni Sena had on Tuesday vandalised a theatre in Kota, Rajasthan, over reports that it was showing a trailer of "Padmavati".

In January, activists of the Karni Sena had manhandled the crew of "Padmavati" in Jaipur, claiming that Bhansali was "distorting" historical facts in the movie.

They had also damaged some cameras and other equipment. Bhansali had to stop shooting.

"They are trying to defame queen Padmavati by distorting historical facts. It is not acceptable," an activist of the Karni Sena said.

In March, some miscreants broke the mirrors at the Padmini Mahal in Chittorgarh Fort where Alauddin Khilji is alleged to have seen Rani Padmavati or Padmini's reflection.

The Karni Sena claims the mirror story was invented years later.

--IANS

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