The CPI(M) today accused BJP chief ministers of "encouraging mob frenzy", and said the protests over the film 'Padmavati' were a "sinister effort" to curb the freedom of expression.
In an editorial in the forthcoming issue of party organ 'Peoples' Democracy', former CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat compared the protesters with cow vigilantes, and said "mob rule" had become one of the "hallmarks of the Modi raj".
"What began as protests by Rajput organisations in Rajasthan has now been supported by the chief ministers of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh," he wrote.
Referring to threats against director Sanjay Leela Bhansali and lead actor Deepika Padukone, he said no arrests had been made or cases filed against those who issued such warnings.
"On the contrary, the language and the strident stand taken by the chief ministers of these states are only encouraging the mob frenzy," he said.
The editorial said the effort to suppress 'Padmavati' was not just about vote bank politics.
"It is a more sinister effort to curb the freedom of expression and to force cultural productions to conform to the regressive and reactionary values of Hindutva," Karat said.
He also attacked the Congress, saying it was "reprehensible" that some of its leaders in Rajasthan had stridently opposed the film.
"The Punjab chief minister, Amarinder Singh, also joined the BJP chief ministers in voicing his objections to the film and supporting the protests." Karat said.
He urged the CBFC to certify the film for public viewing and said it was "incumbent on the state governments concerned to ensure anyone who seeks to disturb the shows is dealt with by the law".
The CPI(M) politburo member took a dig at Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Yogi Adityanath, saying that the Madhya Pradesh chief minister had said the film would not be released in the state as it insults 'Rashtramata Padmavati.
"This should displease (UP chief minister) Yogi Adityanath who had much earlier called for the cow being declared the 'Rashtramata," Karat wrote.
The Left leader also hit out at the decision of the ministry of Information and Broadcasting to remove two films selected by a jury from the Indian Panorama section of the International Film Festival in Goa.
"The BJP central government is complicit in this cultural repression," he said.
The release of 'Padmavati was deferred after protests broke out in parts of the country sparked by allegations that the film depicted a romantic dream sequence between Queen Padmavati and Alauddin Khilji. Bhansali has said there is no such scene in the film.
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