Karni Sena Workers Vandalise Hall in Bihar Ahead of ‘Padmaavat’

The Supreme Court had earlier stayed the ban on ‘Padmaavat’ in Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana and Rajasthan.

Padmaavat has sparked a series of protests across the country.

(Photo: Altered by The Quint)

Despite the Supreme Court staying the ban on Padmaavat in Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Gujarat and Rajasthan, the controversy surrounding the Sanjay Leela Bhansali film is far from over.

Soon after the Supreme Court gave producers of the film the green signal to release it in all states across India, several Karni Sena workers allegedly vandalised a cinema hall in Muzaffarpur, Bihar in protest, reports ANI.

Several Karni Sena workers vandalising a cinema hall in Muzaffarpur, Bihar. 

The Karni Sena has warned of many more protests across the country if the movie is released. 

This isn’t the first time that the Karni Sena has vandalised a building after the Supreme Court’s order. In a recent incident, some of its members had allegedly attacked a school in Madhya Pradesh, because some of its students had performed a sequence on ‘Ghoomar’– a popular song in the Deepika Padukone starrer, reports DNA.

Several Karni Sena leaders had earlier told ANI that they would continue their protests against the film despite the Supreme Court order and even though it had been cleared by the CBFC.

Suraj Pal Amu, Rajput leader

Aaj Supreme Court ne lakhon-crore logon, lakhon-crore Hinduon ki bhavnaon ko thes pahuchai hai, jo SC ka samman karte hain. Hamara sangharsh jaare rahega chaahe mujhe faansi laga do! Ye film release hogi toh desh tootega (The Supreme Court today has hurt the sentiments of lakhs of Hindus. We will continue our protest, even if it means I will be hung for it. If this film is released, the country will break down.

Suraj Pal Amu, Rajput leader told <i>ANI</i>

According to DNA, the members of the Karni Sena have also asked for a ‘janta curfew’ and have urged the masses to refrain from watching the film.

They had even taken to the streets of Rajasthan's Dholpur on Tuesday, where several women had threatened self-immolation or ‘jauhar’ if the film was not banned. The protest was led by Karni Sena Chief, Lokendra Singh Kalvi, the report adds.

Lokendra Singh Kalvi, Karni Sena Chief

I will appeal to all communities to stop the screening of <i>Padmavaat</i>. The people should declare a curfew on cinema halls.

Lokendra Singh Kalvi, Karni Sena Chief told <i>ANI</i>

The film, starring Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor, is scheduled to release in theatres on 25 January.