BJP MLA from Telangana Raja Singh has threatened to set ablaze theatres screening the Sanjay Leela Bhansali production Padmavati anywhere in Telangana, Hindustan Times reported.
The film, set to be released on 1 December, has been under fire for allegedly distorting history and “degrading” Rajput culture.
Singh's comments came to light when a video showing him speaking at a Diwali gathering was posted on his official Facebok page on Sunday. The video has received about 38,000 views and garnered 4,000 likes. The MLA is a Rajput himself and is representing the Goshamahal Assembly constituency in Hyderabad.
Singh alleges that the movie shows Rani Padmavati in love with Muslim invader Allauddin Khilji, thus depicting the Kshatriya community in a bad light.
The fact was that Khilji had attacked Chittorgarh, causing mass self-immolation (Jauhar) by more than 16,000 women who lived in the fort at the time.Raja Singh, BJP MLA
Singh becomes the second BJP leader to pounce at Bhansali after Union Minister Giriraj Singh on Sunday dared the director to make films on other religions.
Union Minister Uma Bharti had earlier suggested that the film-makers should make the critics sit with the censor board and historians to put an end to the controversy surrounding the release of the movie.
The Deepika Padukone-, Ranveer Singh- and Shahid Kapoor-starrer has been facing a lot of fire from different groups accusing the movie of tampering historical facts.
The BJP MLA further said that Bhansali has insured the movie for Rs. 105 crore because he knew it was going hurt the sentiments of Kshatriya community people and this kind of scenario might emerge.
We demand that the film should not be released without showing in advance to the Rajput community for approval. If there is any attempt to show Padmavati ji in bad light and distort history, we will not allow the film to be screened in the first place.
Singh urged the Rajputs to set fire to halls screening the movie despite objections, if anyone had any.
I will be in the forefront in the struggle. If any of you are arrested or harassed, I will use all my influence to come to your rescue and get you out of cases.
He asked the Rajput youth to boycott the movie instead of watching the 'humiliation' of the community.
Your curiosity will only fetch the film-makers more profits.
The Telangana MLA had earlier said that he will behead anyone who opposes the construction of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.
In December 2015, he supported the Dadri lynching incident in Uttar Pradesh, saying that there would be similar incidents in Telangana if cows are killed for beef.
(With inputs from HT)
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