Protest against 'Padmaavat' turns violent in Gujarat

Ahmedabad: Dozens of people on Tuesday evening carried out a protest against the release of controversial film Padmaavat. Agitators vandalised a mall and torched several vehicles in Gujarat’s Ahmedabad here.State Home Minister Pradeep Singh Jadeja said that the matter is being investigated. However, he denied that the government, which has banned the film, is giving silently supporting the protests. He condemned the incident saying that some people have been caught and the police asked to deal with such agitators strictly. 

He also directed the officials to take majors to stop recurrence of incidents in future.A crowd of about two hundred people involved in a candle march first burnt some two-wheelers near Wide Angle Cinema near ISKCON Mall on SG Highway. They then, vandalised the Acropolis mall located in Thaltej, and set afire more vehicles. The mirror building also got damaged in the violent incidents and some four-wheelers.

Protestors also looted some shops. According to eyewitnesses, the crowd also burnt some vehicles near Himalaya Mall, in which Carnival Cinema is located, in Textapur. Later, some vehicles were burnt in front of Ahmedabad forest mall. It is to be believed that same group were involved in these incidents.However, no one was injured in these incidents. Ahmedabad Police Commissioner AK Singh claimed that some miscreants were caught on the spot. Police have been deployed at all the cinema houses.

Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel said these incidents were unfortunate and strict action would be taken against the miscreants.While briefing mediapersons, Karni Sena's chief Mr Kalvi said that despite the court's decision, the people and the Hindu society will continue to oppose the film. He said that despite the ban was removed by the high court, center can take legal action against the film's censor certificate and stop its release. However, Karni Sena's Chief Raj Shekhawat said he is not supporting the violence. He also said that action should be taken against those agitators.The state had announced to ban the movie but was forced to lift it following Supreme Court's verdict. However, most of the cinemas hall have decided against screening the movie on January 25th.(UNI)