The Rajput Karni Sena’s threats to cut off Deepika’s nose for dancing to ‘Ghoomar’ from Padmavati certainly hasn’t stopped Mulayam Singh Yadav’s younger daughter-in-law from dancing to the song.
Aparna Yadav, married to Mulayam’s younger son Prateek Yadav, was seen dancing to the song at what is reported to be her brother’s engagement ceremony.
Aparna’s video has predictably ruffled feathers among the fringe groups that have been targeting the film since its inception. Lokendra SIngh Kalvi, the Karni Sena leader expressed his displeasure at Aparna’s dance, saying:
We are fighting for our cause. Being a Rajput she is dancing on such songs without caring for the sentiments of Rajput. We will send them the original Ghoomar song and other Rajasthani folk songs if they like it so much.
The Rajput community has reportedly expressed displeasure at the sight of Deepika’s character dancing to the song in the film. Addressing a press conference soon after the song released, the Kastrani Sankalp, a group of Rajput women, said:
The queen is shown performing the ghoomar dance in indecent clothes, which is a faulty portrayal of Rajputs. A Rajput queen would never perform before an audience nor bare her midriff.
Meanwhile, Padmavati has been a lightning-rod for controversy and continues to be so, with several states ordering a ban on the film's release, objecting to an alleged ‘distortion of facts’.
At the forefront of these demands is the Rajput Karni Sena, which claims that the film maligns the honour of Rani Padmini, who might or might not be fictional.
Meanwhile, according to India Today, the Dewas district education officer had earlier sent out a circular to all schools, barring them from performing ‘Ghoomar’ at cultural events. However, the circular was later retracted after criticisms from several quarters.
Earlier this year, Aparna Yadav contested and lost from the Lucknow Cantonment seat in the UP Assembly elections.
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