Stop release of Padmavati, BJP leaders to CEC

Alleging that the movie 'Padmavati' distorts history, Kshatriya community leaders belonging to BJP have written to the Chief Election Commissioner demanding that the film's release be put on hold ahead of the Gujarat elections.

BJP vice-president IK Jadeja said that they have received representations from Kshatriya community in 17-18 districts of Gujarat expressing concern about distortion of history in the movie starring Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor and Ranveer Singh.

"There are reports that makers of the film have distorted history. Rani Padmavati is presented in poor light. Our demand is that the film should not be allowed to release.

The Censor Board should review it again, and allow it to be released only with appropriate certification. This is important so that no community is offended, and unnecessary controversies are avoided before elections," Jadeja said.

Jadeja, along with other BJP leaders such as Bhupendrasinh Chudasama, Pradipsinh Jadeja, Jaydrathsinh Parmar, and Balvantsinh Rajput, who too belong to Kshatriya community, had met and decided to represent to the CEC about the movie.

The BJP leader accused Padmavati director and producer Sanjay Leela Bhansali of generating controversies for publicity of his movies.

The movie has led to angry protests at several places, most notably Rajasthan, from where Rani Padmavati hailed. Members of a Kshatriya outfit had stopped the movie's shooting a few months ago, slapped Bhansali, and even vandalised the film's sets. More recently, a rangoli depicting Deepika Padukone as Padmavati was destroyed in a mall in Surat. The movie is slated to be released on December 1, while Gujarat goes to polls on December 9 and 14.