Padmaavat’ politicised by BJP to reap benefits: Ashok Gehlot

Senior Congress leader and former chief minister of Rajasthan Ashok Gehlot on Monday slammed BJP led central government for politicizing Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s directed film ‘Padmawati’ now changed into ‘Padmaawat’ to reap benefits in Gujarat polls. Gehlot said it while speaking to media persons in Bundi circuit house on Sunday morning.

‘The controversy over film Padmavati was intentionally twisted and harbored to gain benefits in Gujarat elections’, former CM of Rajasthan Gehlot alleged.

Gehlot claimed that the person heading Censor Board of Film Certification (CBFC) was an RSS volunteer and a BJP leader.  The matter could have been sorted out through negotiations between the government and concerned parties across the table.

But in order to gain mileage out of the controversy on the movie in Gujarat polls, the central government stretched the issue and eventually it slipped out of control and Supreme court had to intervene, Gehlot added.

‘Such intentions and efforts put reverse effects and spoil the environment of the country’, Gehlot said. The movie was earlier banned in MP than in Rajasthan and after analyzing the timing it was also banned in Gujarat, he said.

Now everywhere in the country, calls and appeals are being made to ban the movie and situation got out of control, the government was not dealing this issue sensitively and was not serious towards this issue, Gehlot said. The freedom of expression should be respected and maintained, he added. The government should ensure that sentiments on cast and religion of any person should not be hurt, Gehlot added.