January ,23 2018
Protests were held in several towns and cities of
Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday ahead of the January 25 release of the movie
'Padmaavat'.
In Barabanki town, Muslims protested against the movie's
release and burnt an effigy of filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali and its posters.
The protesters warned that they will not allow the movie's release in the
district. "We will not allow the film to distort history, even if it is about a
Hindu queen," a protestor told the media.
Supporters of Shri Rajput Karni
Sena, a community organisation bitterly opposed to the movie, protested in
Allahabad and tried to set on fire a city bus near the Mayo Hall. They
vandalised public property before police chased them away.
Protests were
also held in Agra, Hathras and some parts of western Uttar Pradesh.
Police said that the film would be allowed to be screened at theatres in view of
the Supreme Court orders on the issue. Home Department officials could not be
contacted for comments despite efforts.
Speaking on the condition of
anonymity, a state government official told IANS that so far there was no clear
line given by the Yogi Adityanath government on the screening of the movie but
they will respect the apex court directives and provide security to theatres
where 'Padmaavat' is slated for screening.
Cinema owners in the state
capital have sought police security to ensure peaceful screening of the movie
though they refused to come on record, saying they did not want more trouble