November 17, 2017
Entry to the famous Chittorgarh Fort in
Rajasthan was closed on Friday in protest against filmmaker Sanjay Leela
Bhansali's upcoming movie "Padmavati", which many claim has distorted historical
facts.
"We have closed the first gate known as Padan Pol gate since 10
a.m. We are not allowing anyone to enter the fort. It is a peaceful protest and
will continue till 6 p.m.," member of Sarv Samaj Protest Committee Ranjit Singh
told IANS.
Tourists visiting the fort were requested to go back, he said.
On an average over 3,000-4,000 tourists visit the fort starting from
October, as the tourist season picks up.
"We have just started our
protest and around 400-450 people are sitting on dharna outside the gate. The
number is likely to increase as the day progresses," said K.K. Sharma, a member
of the protest committee.
The police, however, said the number of
protestors was not more than 250.
The protestors demand that the movie,
based on the life of Rani Padmini or Padmavati, who was queen of Chittorgarh,
should not be released.
"It is for the first time since Independence that
the entry to the fort has been blocked," claimed another member of the
committee.
There is heavy police presence to deal with any untoward
incident. Barricades have been put up outside the fort.
A Karni Sena
leader on Thursday threatened actress Deepika Padukone, who plays the lead in
the movie, with physical harm over her "provocative statements".
Earlier
this week in an interview to IANS, Deepika 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 also conducted a
signature campaign in blood demanding a ban on the film.
Even the 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 with 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.