Telangana government prefers to adopt wait and watch on Padmavathi film

HYDERABAD: While opponents of 'Padmavati' step up the clamour to ban release of the film, the Telangana government on Tuesday preferred to adopt wait and watch before taking a decision. "The state government will take a view as and when the situation arises," Telangana cinematography minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav told TOI.
Talasani claimed there was no demand in the state to ban the film."I have not received any demand from any party or person seeking a ban on the film. Also, the producer of the film has deferred release of the film to a later date. In view of these developments, the state government will take a view as and when the situation arises,” he said.
However, BJP legislator from Goshamahal, Raja Singh, himself a Rajput, on Tuesday shot off a letter to chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao asking him to impose a ban on 'Padmavati'. His letter came close on heels of BJP-ruled states Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Congress-ruled Punjab banning the film and other states considering similar steps.
In his letter, Raja Singh said the producer and director Sanjay Leela Bhansali has hurt the sentiments of Hindus by manipulating the history of Rani Padmavati. The movie should be banned in Telangana till necessary changes are made, he said.
Earlier, Raja Singh threatened to burn down theatres in the state if they screened Padmavati. He also gave a call to people to boycott the movie, which he said is being made to denigrate the Rajput community. The MLA also declared if any person is arrested for setting ablaze the theatres screening the movie, he would provide legal aid to bail him out. The MLA, who recently addressed a gathering of his community in the city, posted his speech on his Facebook account.
“Padmavati is a conspiracy to show Rajputs in poor light by defaming their queens. Can producers of this film dare to make films on other community,” Raja Singh said. On Tuesday, Raja Singh along with nearly 100 workers were taken into custody by Afzalgunj police when they were trying to take out a protest rally against Padmavati from Charminar to Hyderabad district collectorate. They were shifted to the local police station and later released.
In video: Four versions of the Padmavati legend