Karni Sena wants 'Padmavati' banned, slams Smriti Irani, censor board for allowing release

NEW DELHI: Coming down heavily on Information and Broadcasting Minister Smriti Irani and censor board chief Prasoon Joshi for allowing its release with a U/A certificate, the Shree Rashtriya Rajput Karni Sena on Friday called for a complete ban on 'Padmavati'. 

"I want to ask the central government what benefits will they get by supporting this movie? All the Hindu parties from whom we learnt about Hinduism are quiet on this film," Sukhdev Singh Gogamedi, President of Karni Sena, told the media here. 

"The central government is mum on this film as Viacom18 Motion Pictures, which is a foreign company, made it during the time of demonetisation. During a time when we were not able to get Rs 4,000, how come (Sanjay Leela) Bhansali managed to get 160 to 180 crore rupees."

"Bhansali has even got a certification from Britain through Headley, who is currently in jail. I want to know why Bhansali has not been jailed? Why is he not being quizzed about anti-national (activities)?"

"If CBFC wanted to take a decision on their own, why they did they invite people from our community? We will soon protest against this movie and will burn effigies of Smriti Irani and Prasoon Joshi."

The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) last week announced its decision to grant the certification to the controversial Bhansali directorial -- subject to five modifications including a title change.

The decision was arrived at following a meeting in the presence of Joshi and a special panel comprising Arvind Singh from Udaipur, historian Chandramani Singh and Professor KK Singh of Jaipur University.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 'Padmavati', that stars Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor and Ranveer Singh in key roles, was earlier slated for release on December 1. Aditi Rao Hydari, Anupriya Goenka, and Raza Murad feature in supporting roles. 

However, the movie got embroiled in a major row after leaders of the Rajput community claimed the film insulted their history. 

Later in December, the Central Board of Film Certification approved the film for theatrical exhibition and suggested 5 modifications to the film, which includes the addition of multiple disclaimers and amending its title to 'Padmavat'.

The makers are yet to make any announcement about the same.