A day ahead of the release of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's controversial film 'Padmaavat', Uttar Pradesh capital Lucknow today witnessed protests near malls and theatres from activists claiming to be associated with a Rajput fringe group.
Even as the protests were underway, members of another fringe group, the Kanpur Kshatriya Mahasabha, announced a cash reward to anyone who chops off actor Deepika Padukone's nose.
"We have collected crores of rupees from Kanpurites to be given as reward to anyone who will bring the chopped nose of Deepika Padukone," its president Gajendra Singh Rajawat told PTI in Kanpur.
A number of activists staged protest outside two malls in Gomti Nagar area of the state capital. Police, however, managed to control the situation and detained a few activists.
"The security around cinema halls have been increased. We will not let anyone take law in his hand," a senior police official said.
Police had to use mild force to disperse the protesters gathered outside Gomti Nagar police station against the detention of the activists.
The film has been facing protests by Karni Sena and other fringe groups over allegations that it distorts history.
An alert has been sounded in the state and all the district police chiefs have been asked to remain vigilant, the police officer said.
Forces were on standby to maintain law and order, he said.
ADG (Law and Order) Anand Kumar has directed all district police chiefs to ensure that the force remains alert especially at malls and cinema halls with anti-riot gears in view of protests against the movie by the organisations.
"Enough police force should be kept in reserve so that it can be deployed when needed. Local intelligence units should also be alerted to keep an eye of unscrupulous elements so that effective timely action is taken," he said.
All SHOs and senior officers have been directed to patrol and keep an eye on the situation to avoid untoward incidents.
"In view of (possible) dharnas, agitation, traffic jam, arson all measures should be taken in advance and strict legal action should be initiated against those involved in such acts," he said.
Senior Samajwadi Party leader and Leader of Opposition in the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council, Ahmed Hasan, claimed that the controversy has been whipped up by the BJP.
"It is a part of the BJP's conspiracy to divert the attention of the common man from burning issues," he said.
Hasan said the Yogi Adityanath government has failed to maintain law and order and sought the intervention of Governor Ram Naik.
In Gorakhpur, a large number of people belonging to the Akhil Bhartiya Kshatriya Samaj protested in front of the district magistrate's office. The protesters gave a memorandum to the district magistrate against the release of the film.
Fearing violence and damage, cinema hall and multiplexes in Gorakhpur are not yet ready to screen the controversial film despite Supreme Court directives.
The SRS Cinemas at city mall in Gorakhpur was scheduled to screen the movie from tomorrow but after the protest by Hindu organisations, the manager decided not to screen it.
"No cinema hall or multiplex is ready to screen the movie in Gorakhpur," Assistant Entertainment Tax Commissioner KN Srivastav said.
On security arrangements, SSP Satyarth Anirudh Panjkaj said, "Our security arrangement is all over Gorakhpur district. Directions have been given to the SP city and circle officers and we are ready to ensure law and order."
During a press conference, Gorakhpur district president of Akhil Bhartiya Kshatriya Samaj, Vishvanarayan Singh, said: "We don't agree with the movie Padmaavat. It is not justified to present the icons and ideals of a community differently for the sake of commercial benefits. We protest against the screening of the movie. We are not against entertainment but of doctored history."
"It is true that the Supreme Court has given its verdict, but I want to ask that when many important cases are pending in the court for years, how the decision came in just 18 hours. What is the relevance of fast tracking the court for screening a movie? Anyway we are not against court, but it is our right to express our disagreement over the issue," Singh added.
Bhansali is facing the ire of various groups, who allege improper "depiction" of legendary queen Padmavati in the film. 'Padmaavat' stars Deepika Padukone in the titular role, Shahid Kapoor as Maharawal Ratan Singh and Ranveer Singh as Sultan Alauddin Khilji.
Leaders of the Rajput Karni Sena had met Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday and demanded a ban on the film in the state.
"I met the UP chief minister today and demanded a ban on the film 'Padmaavat'," Karni Sena patron Lokendra Singh Kalvi had told reporters after his 20-minute meeting with Adityanath here.
People will impose a "janta curfew" in cinema halls in Uttar Pradesh if the movie is screened, he had said.
Kalvi, who listed nearly 40 different objections to the movie, demanded that films on the lives of Maharana Pratap, Shivaji and other eminent personalities be made.
The movie, earlier titled "Padmavati", will now hit screens tomorrow with the new title suggested by the censor board.
Starring Deepika Padukone as Rani Padmavati, Shahid Kapoor as Maharawal Ratan Singh and Ranveer Singh as Alauddin Khilji, the film was slated for release on December 1, but it was postponed as the makers had not got a certificate from the Central Board of Film Certification by then.
The film is based on the saga of the 13th century battle between Maharaja Ratan Singh and his army of Mewar and Sultan Alauddin Khilji of Delhi.
The Supreme Court had earlier paved the way for all-India release of "Padmaavat" on January 25 and stayed notifications and orders issued by Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Gujarat - all ruled by the BJP - prohibiting exhibition of the film.
The apex court had also restrained other states from issuing any such notification or orders banning the screening of the movie.
Earlier, a Meerut resident from the Kshatriya community had announced a bounty of Rs five crore on the heads of Bhansali and Padukone for "wrongfully portraying" queen Padmini in the film.
Thakur Abhishek Som of Sardhana Chaubisi, who has claimed affiliation to the Samajwadi Party, said the Kshatriya community will not tolerate the wrong portrayal of the queen and meddling with the heritage.
Haryana BJP leader Suraj Pal Amu too had offered a Rs 10 crore bounty for beheading Padukone and Bhansali, but he had to resign as the chief media coordinator of the party's state unit after he was served a showcause notice for his remarks.
Earlier today, KCM activists staged a dharna at Shikshak Park in Kanpur seeking ban on the movie and warned the district administration to be ready to face violent protests if the film was allowed to be screened in the city. They have also threatened theatre owners.
Rajawat held the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi responsible for the release of the film.
As news about the protest at Shikshak Park reached senior officials, a heavy contingent of police personnel was rushed there to ensure none of the protestors takes law in his hand.
The security has been beefed up in and around all malls and cinema halls, Senior Superintendent of Police, Kanpur, Akhilesh Kumar said.
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