Karni Sena threatens mass Jauhar against Padmaavat release

Shree Rajput Karni Sena chief Lokendra Singh Kalvi, who is spearheading the anti-Padmavat protests across India, has warned that women would perform Jauhar (self-immolation) if the movie is released on January 25.

Speaking at a rally in Dholpur, he said merely retitling the movie Padmavat from the original Padmavati, will not fool Rajputs. He also claimed that women supporters will perform Jauhar (self-immolation) in case the movie is released. According to Kalvi, hundreds of women hailing from Kshatriya community have registered to perform "jauhar".

Demanding a ban on the controversial movie by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Rajput community members on Wednesday staged a protest in Chittorgarh district.

A sit-in protest staged by the community found support from other community members. The protestors blocked the Udaipur-Ahmedabad highway and raised slogans near Rithola crossing. Due to the blockade, traffic was diverted from the highway, making other roads jam-packed.

Kalvi had threatened to burn down cinema halls if the movie was released anywhere in India.

Another protest, similar to the one held in Chittorgarh has been planned on January 21 in Jodhpur.

The decision to ban the movie by Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Haryana governments has failed to pacify the anger of certain communities, including the Rajputs. "Not showing in three states won't assuage our hurt. We want Padmavat banned across the country," Kalvi told DH.

The film starring Deepika Padukone as Rani Padmavati, Shahid Kapoor as Maharawal Ratan Singh and Ranveer Singh as Alauddin Khilji was given a U/A certificate by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) last month.

The film is slated for release on January 25.