Jauhar call puts chittor on the boil

Chittorgarh fort saw heavy police deployment in view of the call by women to commit jauhar as a protest against the film Padmaavat. The call was given by Jauhar Kshatrani Manch (JKM) of Chittorgarh. The police prevented the women from reaching the fort. They had announced to commit jauhar at the same jauhar stal where Padmini had done so.

Some protesters which included men and women reached close to the fort entrance and raising slogans against Bhansali, burnt his effigy. Tourists were stopped from entering the fort while the protest was going on.

While foreign tourists were being allowed to go to the fort, Indian tourists had to undergo detailed identity check before they were allowed to go in.

The protesting Rajput women (JKM) went on to collect at the Jauhar Jyoti Mandir and staged a sit-in (dharna). The women protesters from JKM continued with their sit-in demanding a ban on the film. Later in the evening, they were convinced by the administration to end the dharna on a 24-hour ultimatum. Their demand was ‘Ban Padmaavat or give us sanction for ichchaa mrityu’ for this they had written to the PM and the President.

Speaking to DNA, “Nirmala Rathore “Police surrounded my home and did not let me go out. Slowly women collected at my place and we went to the jauhar Jyoti mandir. Even vehicles of protesters coming from outside Chittorgarh were stopped,”

“We have given a 24- hour ultimatum, what we will do after that will be a surprise. If Bhansali has a right to expression, even we have rights to defend our honor,” added Rathore. 

In another development, the Jauhar Smriti Sansthan had filed an appeal before the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal (FCAT) that came up for hearing today and was rejected on technical grounds. “The tribunal held that only people of the industry can appeal before it and so our appeal was turned down. We are planning to move Delhi High Court,” said Narpat Singh Bhati, treasurer Jauhar Smriti Sansthan.

Security steps

Foreign tourists were being allowed to enter the fort, Indian tourists had to undergo detailed identity check.
Some protesters raised slogans against Bhansali, burnt his effigy.