Herald Desk
The Padmavati row has hit so hard in the psyche of the
states that Chief Ministers have also split in taking sides. When West Bengal
CM Mamata Bannerjee welcomes Padmavati, Madhya Pradesh and poll-bound Gujarat
Rajputs put the release of the film in their state in limbo, considering the
sentiments of few social communities.
Now, Vice-president Venkaiah Naidu too speaks up against the way the film is
held hostage to the unsolicited rationality of some fringe communities.
In a veiled reference to Padmavati, Naidu said today that giving violent
threats and announcing rewards for physical harm was not acceptable in a
democracy. Not directly referring to the controversy, but films and art in
general, he warned against undermining the rule of law in the country.
“Whether these fellows have that much money or not, I doubt. Everyone is announcing Rs one crore reward.
Is it so easy to have Rs one crore? This is not acceptable in a democracy. You
have the right to protest in a democratic manner, go to the appropriate
authorities…you cannot physically obstruct and can’t give violent threats.
Let us not undermine the rule of law,” Naidu said at a literary festival in the
capital.
He stressed that he is not talking about any particular film but it had a
strong reference to Sanjay Leela Bhansali directed Padmavati, as it comes amid
protests by many groups against alleging that the movie distorts history.
“You have no right to take laws into your own hands. At the same time, you don’t
have the right to hurt the sentiments of others”, he said.
With inputs from PTI
