The group vandalized property and pelted stones on a school bus filled with children during its protest against Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Padmaavat.
Padmaavat protests: Prakash Raj, Farhan Akhtar, Ayushmann condemn Karni Sena on Twitter
Mumbai - 25 Jan 2018 16:07 IST
Updated : 26 Jan 2018 5:07 IST
Shriram Iyengar
Even as the nation seethes against the wanton vandalism by the Rajput Karni Sena against the film Padmaavat, the industry has come out in strong opposition to the group's action.
The Karni Sena pelted stones and vandalized a school bus in Delhi filled with children on Tuesday during the violent protests against Sanjay Leela Bhansali's film.
Needless to say, Twitter was the most effective vehicle to express outrage. Actor-director Farhan Akhtar minced no words in calling the violent pelting, which endangered schoolchildren, an act of terrorism.
Attacking a school bus is not an agitation. It is terrorism. The people who did it are terrorists. Please refer to them as such.
— Farhan Akhtar (@FarOutAkhtar) January 25, 2018
Actor Prakash Raj, who has been in the limelight for his outspoken comments against the growing intolerance and violence in the country, wrote 'Children of my country shiver with fear and cry....as Karni Sena attacks a school bus....The elected government looks the other way. The opposition party diplomatically reacts... aren’t you all ashamed to trade our children’s safety for your vote-bank politics.'
Children of my country shiver with fear and cry....as karni Sena attacks a school bus....The elected Government looks the other way..The opposition party diplomatically reacts...aren’t u all ashamed to trade our children’s safety ..for ur vote bank politics..#justasking
— Prakash Raj (@prakashraaj) January 24, 2018
The sentiment was echoed by lyricist Varun Grover as well who called the group 'a bunch of criminals'.
Can I just say Karni Sena was very much a bunch of criminals even if they hadn't attacked a school bus? The pretend voices from cowardly BJP supporters condemning them NOW, after the school bus, were silent when they beat up the film crew & offered bounties for beheading.
— वरà¥Âण (@varungrover) January 25, 2018
Filmmaker Ashoke Pandit also blamed the media for providing a platform to the Rajput Karni Sena to keep voicing its violent opinions.
Let all the news channels ban all the #KarniSena goons on their channels & stop covering their activities & U will see the difference. #ArrestLokendraKalvi #IndiaVsFringe #IndiaWithPadmaavat
— Ashoke Pandit (@ashokepandit) January 24, 2018
Actor Aftab Shivdasani, usually reticent in his comments, said it was 'a sad day' that state governments could not provide protection to schoolchildren from vandalism.
A very sad day in the democracy of a country when the government of 4 states cannot guarantee the safety of its citizens and block a film out instead fearing threats. Going & stoning a school bus is a justified protest? Where is the respect for the law? #regressive #padmaavat
— Aftab Shivdasani (@AftabShivdasani) January 25, 2018
Comedian Tanmay Bhat tried to make light of the situation by suggesting that the Karni Sena should perhaps join the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), referring to another series of controversies that took place last year.
Maybe if Karni Sena enrolled into JNU some action might be taken against them
— Tanmay Bhat (@thetanmay) January 24, 2018
The violent protests even earned the wrath of Sanal Sasidharan, the director of S Durga (2017) which was banned from the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) and the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in 2017.
In short, why we are making films at all? We need to introduce a law banning films! In a country of thousand cultures, it is impossible to make films without having a chance to hurt one or the other. After all, do we had films in our ancient culture? No!! We should ban them!! https://t.co/Ji9YCnAeoj
— Sanal Sasidharan (@directorsanal) January 25, 2018
While most of the industry stood firmly behind Bhansali and his film, director Hansal Mehta raised a question about the portrayal of jauhar (self-immolation), and Rajput valour in the film. He said, 'A film glorifies jauhar and the film’s publicity machinery talks about Rajput valour and dignity while people who call themselves Rajputs attack children.'
A film glorifies jauhar and the film’s publicity machinery talks about Rajput valour and dignity while people who call themselves Rajputs attack children.
— Hansal Mehta (@mehtahansal) January 25, 2018
Actor Ayushmann Khurrana took on the Karni Sena saying that it might now lose any public support it might have had.
Dear Karni Sena members if you have any political ambitions then forget about it because you’ve already collected a lot of bad PR for yourself. How dare you attack innocent children?
— Ayushmann Khurrana (@ayushmannk) January 25, 2018
And now pls look at your foolish self in the mirror and chant-
“Jaisi Karni waisi bharni.”
Despite the support, the film has been blocked from release in three states (Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Rajasthan) for fear of violence. Several exhibitors have avoided screening the film.
Padmaavat stars Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor and Ranveer Singh. The film was released across India today.
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