Most of the theatres in Gujarat have voluntarily decided to not screen controversial Bollywood film ‘Padmaavat’, while the state government is trying its best to maintain law and order, said Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel.
“Most theatres have declined to screen the film, despite the green signal from the Supreme Court. They have taken the decision voluntarily. The government is trying its best to maintain law and order in the state,” Patel told reporters in Gandhinagar.
Apart from Gujarat, security has been beefed up in other part of the country as well.
There has been no end to the protests against the Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s movie starring Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor. The film is all set to release on January 25.
Meanwhile, the police have issued advisories in Maharashtra to increase security arrangements across the state, and identified districts like Aurangabad, Nashik and Kolhapur, as “sensitive pockets.”
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The leader of fringe group Karni Sena Lokendra Singh Kalvi has issued a veiled threat suggesting there could be violence if the Bollywood flick was released despite widespread opposition.
In Porbandar, Mahatama Gandhi’s birthplace, Kalvi said that when so many people from all walks of life were standing firm against the film, it will be a “huge insult for all of us” if it releases on January 25.
The police in Gujarat have been informed that the cinema owners will not screen the film and the decision in connection with screening the film on a later date will be taken afterwards.
As the protests in Gujarat turned violent, at least 30 motorcycles were set on fire and several other vehicles parked outside three city malls were damaged on Tuesday by protesters.
Ahmedabad police commissioner A K Singh said several people have been arrested over the violence. The Ahmedabad police have registered six FIRs against 100 people.
(With agency inputs)