This is the first time the dargah dewan has spoken on a controversial matter. Earlier, he had limited himself to condemning terrorism and Pakistan for working against Islam and Sufism. In a statement, the dewan stated that the conduct of Bhansali has inflamed the feelings of religion and, therefore, the protest against movie ‘Padmavati’ was valid. The Muslim Community should support the agitation against such movies, he said.
“The character of Bhansali is similar to that of writer Rushdie, Nasreen and Fatah because Bhansali has distorted history to make ‘Padmavati’. This is hurting the feelings of Rajput community. This is similar to the act of Rushdie and others as they have also distorted history in the name of their right to expression. Such writers tried to hurt the feelings of Muslims,” he said.
Dewan said that the alleged scene between Allauddin Khilji and Padmavati hurt the feelings of Rajput community. “Therefore, the protest against movie ‘Padmavati’ is valid,” the dewan said.
He asked Muslims of the country to support this agitation by the Rajput community, adding that the movie was also hampering peace management.
“If some scene in a Film is hurting the feelings of any community then such scenes should be re-examined so that the feeling of anyone is not hurt,” he said.
Movies should not aim to hurt the sentiments of any community. The dewan demanded the government of India to ban the exhibition of such films.
“Such films are made to earn money and nothing else. Queen Padmavati is the symbol of Rajput’s woman’s self-respect and courage. Such distortion is not acceptable in the society,” he said.
He further said that the scene in the movie between Khilji and Padmavati has caused massive protests all over India. “Such stories are being told by the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) to tourists. It is also written outside the Padmavati Palace in Chittorgarh fort. Why is ASI not stopping such controversy related to history,” he asked.
The dargah dewan has, meanwhile, not mentioned whether he had seen the movie ‘Padmavati.’ He has also not disclosed from where he got the facts about scenes from the upcoming film. He also failed to explain the difference between the feeling of community and that of religion.
BOX: Brahmin community demands ban
After Rajput and Muslim communities, the Brahmins are also fuming over Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s film ‘Padmavati’. Sarva Brahmin Mahasabha, a social group of the community, initiated a signature campaign written in blood against the film, demanding a ban. The mahasabha said that they would collect 10,000 such signatures and send them to the censor board and urge for a ban on the film.
A large number of members of the mahasabha gathered outside Raj Mandir cinema hall in the city to start the campaign against the film.
“We are not going to tolerate the distortion of history by filmmaker Bhansali. Maharani Padmavati had sacrificed her life for the self-respect and dignity of women. The filmmaker is neglecting her contribution. It is also a distortion of facts for mere entertainment. We are not going to tolerate it. We have started the campaign to give a loud and clear message that Brahmins are with the Rajput community and will not let the film to be released,” said Pandit Suresh Mishra, who had fought the last assembly election from Sanganer constituency on a Congress ticket. He lost to senior BJP leader Ghanshyam Tiwari.
“It has now become the duty of the censor board to take a decision in accordance with the emotions of various communities,” Mishra added.
Source : timesofindia
