January 16, 2018
Sanjay Leela Bhansali's "Padmaavat" was banned on Tuesday by
Haryana's BJP government, even as massive protests against the movie's upcoming
release continued in Rajasthan.
The decision to ban the film was taken on
Tuesday at a meeting of the Haryana cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Manohar
Lal Khattar.
"Padmaavat" is already banned in Rajasthan and Gujarat, both
ruled by the BJP.
Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij tweeted about the ban
being imposed on the movie which is set to release nationwide on January 25.
"Film Padmavati/Padmavat banned in Haryana," Vij wrote on Twitter.
Vij took up the issue regarding the impending release of the film and said the
Rajput community in the state was against the film. He said the entire cabinet
supported him on the move to impose a ban on screening of the film in Haryana.
The film, cleared by the Central Board of Film Certification with U/A
certificate, has been caught in a row over claims by Rajput groups backed by a
section of the BJP that it distorts history.
Shree Rajput Karni Sena, at
the forefront of the protests, has demanded a nationwide ban on the film.
On Tuesday, Karni Sena members took out a massive rally led by its chief
Lokendra Singh Kalvi in Dholpur, Rajasthan to protest against the Deepika
Padukone, Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor starrer.
"Dholpur was chosen as
the location for the show of strength as it is situated on the Uttar Pradesh
border. We want the Yogi Adityanath government in UP to ban the film as Haryana
government has already declared its ban in their state," a senior member of
Karni Sena told IANS.
The spokesperson said a huge protest is also being
planned at Jantar Mantar in Delhi from January 22.
On their part,
"Padmaavat" producers have stated that the film is based on "Padmavat", a poem
by Sufi poet Malik Muhammad Jayasi, in an ode to the famed valour, legacy and
courage of Rajputs, and portrays Rani Padmavati with utmost respect and does not
tarnish her repute or misrepresent her character in any manner.