Fearing clashes and protests by Karni Sena activists, a mall in Gurugram has cancelled the screening of the Sanjay Leela Bhansali film Padmaavat.
Fearing clashes and protests by Karni Sena activists, a mall in Gurugram has cancelled the screening of the Sanjay Leela Bhansali film Padmaavat.
According to news agency ANI, PVR Cinemas in Gurugram's Ambience Mall put out a circular stating that the screening of the movie had been cancelled.
Earlier in the day, former Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Menon Rao has lashed out at the Karni Sena for pelting stones at a school bus following protests over the release of the Sanjay Leela Bhansali film Padmaavat.
Taking to Twitter, Rao wrote, "All the perfumes of Davos cannot mask the foul odour of caste prejudice, backwardness,hubris, and thuggery that stain our democracy. But when do we listen and learn? We are self-delusional if we think we’ve arrived at the global high table."
Earlier, locals watched helplessly as both terrified teachers and students riding in a school bus belonging to the GD Goenka school in Gurugram ducked as Karni Sena protesters hurled stones at the bus on the Sohna Road on Wednesday. The attack came after protesters had burnt down a state-run bus that was next to the school bus.
The attacks on the buses came even as Gurugram police stated that security had been intensified around all multiplexes in the city. Police officials also stated that life would continue as normal and adequate patrolling was being done.
On Wednesday, Karni Sena members vandalised parts of New Delhi by staging protests and causing roadblocks despite Delhi police's claims that adequate security measures had been taken to ensure smooth screening of the movie.
Meanwhile in Ahmedabad, the Gujarat Multiplex Owners Association stated that Padmavaat would not be screened in any multiplex or single screen in the state till the row over the film was resolved. Earlier, a mob estimated estimated at around 2,000 people went on the rampage targeting three multiplexes in the city. The association said the decision had been taken for the safety of customers as well as to protect their property.
Following the statement by the association, chaos continued as several leaders of various Rajput community organisations, including Raj Shekhawat, president of Karni Sena in Gujarat, said that since Padmaavat is not going to be screened, it is no more an issue and there would be no bandh. Mahakal Sena and other outfits also assured that they would not take part in the bandh and the government said that schools and colleges would function as usual in the state. However, later, Arjunsinh Gohil, president of Rajput Karni Sena said that the bandh was to go on as planned.
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 "Members of the Karni Sena during one of the many protests over Padmavat")
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