Padmavati row: Seconding BJP, Congress says won't tolerate distortion of history

In yet another blow to Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s troubled film Padmavati, the chief ministers of Madhya Pradesh and Punjab have come down heavily on it and supported those who have been protesting against it on grounds of distortion of history. 

Speaking at an event in Madhya Pradesh, chief minister of Madhya Pradesh Shivraj Singh Chouhan said he would not let the film be released in the state if it brings ‘dishonour’ to queen Padmavati.

“If by distorting facts the film brings dishonour to rashtra-mata Padmavatiji, the film won’t be released on the land of Madhya Pradesh. The people of the country won’t tolerate any insult towards the nation,” he proclaimed. 

Chouhan and members of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have been vocal in their opposition to the film. The party's media coordinator from Haryana, Suraj Pal Amu, even offered Rs10 crore to anyone who beheads Bhansali and lead actress Deepika Padukone. 

Surprisingly, this time the Congress, staunch opponent of the BJP, too, is echoing similar sentiments. Captain Amarinder Singh, chief minister of Punjab, has slammed the film and praised the protestors. He told news agency ANI, “Nobody will accept the distortion of history and those who are protesting are rightly doing so. We have been reading about the queen’s sacrifice from childhood. Distortion of history will not be tolerated.” 

Padmavati was supposed to be released across India on 1 December, but the producers, Viacom18 Motion Pictures, have decided to postpone the date.