‘Padmaavat’ row | Women take out warning march in Chittorgarh, threaten to commit ‘jauhar’

After being embroiled in controversies for the longest time, Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s magnum opus Padmaavat is all set to release on January 25. While the members of the Rajput Karni Sena had led protests across Rajasthan and other states against the film, the Supreme Court on Thursday stayed notifications issued by the four states - Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan and Gujarat to ban the release of the film.

Now in a recent development, as Rajput community has escalated its agitation, thousands of women brandishing swords on Sunday took out a 'Chetavani Rally' in Rajasthan's Chittorgarh town in order to stop the release of Padmaavat and has warned the authorities that they should be prepared for 'jauhar' (committing suicide by jumping into fire) by them otherwise. 

As per recent reports, the protesters began their march from the Chittorgarh Fort and ended it at the main market in the town where they submitted a memorandum addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to District Collector Indrajeet Singh. Apparently, the memorandum clearly stated that the march was taken out to ensure that Rani Padmini's honour was maintained and if the film’s screening is not stopped on January 25, the Rajput women will perform 'jauhar' on January 24.

Meanwhile, Shri Rajput Karni Sena spokesperson Vijendra Singh said that the body will approach cinema hall owners across India in the next three days to request them not to screen Padmaavat. "On Sunday, we contacted around 100 cinema halls in the National Capital Region and they have given in writing that they will not screen the film." He added that if the cinema halls screened the movie, they will be responsible for the consequences.

Starring Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor and Ranveer Singh in the lead, Padmaavat was earlier slated to release on December 1, 2017. 

(With agency inputs)