NEW DELHI: Even as the release of Padmavati has been deferred, three chief ministers on Monday jumped into the controversy with Madhya Pradesh’s Shivraj Singh Chouhan announcing a ban on the film in his state, while his Punjab counterpart Amarinder Singh backed the Rajput community in its protests against Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s historical drama that is mired in controversy.
However, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee described the controversy as “unfortunate” and a “calculated plan” to destroy freedom of expression.
Also on Monday, the Supreme Court rejected a plea seeking to block the release of Padmavati, saying that it is “premature” as the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has yet to decide and any interference at this stage would amount to “pre-judging the matter”.
In Jammu and Kashmir, senior National Conference (NC) leader and MLA Devender Rana urged Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti to ban the release of Padmavati in the state.
The three chief ministers waded into the controversy after Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Aditynath and his Rajasthan counterpart opposed the release of the film citing threat of serious law and order problem.
The film has been mired in controversy over conjectures that it “distorts history” regarding Rajput queen Padmavati, a contention that Bhansali has repeatedly denied.
Chouhan announced in Bhopal after a meeting with Rajput groups that the film has “distorted history” and thus cannot be allowed for “release” in his state.
“If historical facts are distorted, and if anything is shown or said in the movie against the respect of the country’s mother Padmavatiji, then that movie cannot be allowed to release in the land of Madhya Pradesh,” Chouhan said, eliciting a rousing applause from the audience.
“And I am saying this because people of the country and Madhya Pradesh cannot accept disrespect of their pride,” the BJP leader added.
Deepika pulls out of GES: Actress Deepika Padukone, who is at the centre of a row over Padmavati, has pulled out of the Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES), that will have US President Donald Trump’s daughter Ivanka and Prime Minister Narendra Modi attend the inauguration on November 28. — IANS
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