January 16, 2018
In another show of strength, the Shri Rajput Karni Sena
on Tuesday took out a massive rally in Dholpur in Rajasthan to demand a
countrywide ban on Sanjay Leela Bhansali's "Padmaavat", which is scheduled for
release on January 25. They have threatened mass immolation if the film is not
banned.
The rally was led by Rajput Karni Sena patron, Lokendra Singh
Kalvi. Thousands of women were seen walking in the protest rally.
The
protesters met the district collector and requested him to convey their message
to the central government for banning the film across India.
Dholpur was
chosen as the location for the rally as it is situated on the Uttar Pradesh
border. "We want the Yogi Adityanath government in UP to ban the film, as the
Haryana government has already declared a ban in the state today," a senior
member of Karni Sena told IANS.
"Earlier, we had met Haryana Chief
Minister Manoharlal Khattar requesting him to ban the movie, and he had assured
us the movie would be banned once they check its legal aspects."
"We want
Prime Minister Narendra Modi to look into the issue and ban the movie across
India. We met Home Minister Rajnath Singh on January 14 and apprised him of the
challenges the country will face once the film is released," he said.
"Why the central government is keeping mum on this issue is beyond our
understanding," he added.
According to the Karni Sena member, 1,700 women
have registered their names, addresses and consent letters from their families
with the Jauhar Samiti in Chittorgarh.
"If the film's screening is not
stopped, they will perform jauhar (mass immolation). The men will go to cinema
halls with swords to stop its screening," he added.
All highways
surrounding Chittorgarh will also be blocked on Wednesday as a mark of protest.
He warned that in case the film is released on January 25, "Republic Day
celebrations will turn into a dark day as there will be all chances of a war
like situation in the country".
"We are also planning a big protest at
Jantar Mantar in Delhi from January 22 where thousands of Rajputs from across
the country will be gathering to stage a massive protest," he said.
Asked
if Karni Sena members are supporting Congress in the Ajmer and Alwar bypoll, he
said that "looking at the silence of the central government and to protest
against the injustice meted out to members of Shri Karni Sena who were demanding
a CBI probe into the Anandpal issue, the Karni Sena members have vowed to ensure
BJP loses the ensuing by-polls".