Gujarat 5th state to ban Padmavati including Rajasthan Madhya Pradesh UP and Punjab.

AHMEDABAD: Gujarat's BJP government on Wednesday banned the release of Deepika Padukone starrer 'Padmavati' with chief minister Vijay Rupani citing law and order issue as the reason behind banning of the film in the poll-bound state. The movie is already banned in a few other states, including Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.

Gujarat is the fifth state to ban the movie following Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, UP and Punjab.

"I have received representation from Rajputs and many other groups. In Gujarat, people in general feel that the film has objectionable content which can hurt people's sentiments as well as create law and order problems," Rupani said.

The CM said the film is being banned to avoid law and order problems as Gujarat is going to polls in just over two weeks.

"On the basis of the state home department's advice, we have decided not to allow the screening of the film in Gujarat till the producers remove the objectionable part of the movie," Rupani said.
 

Congress also supports ban on movie

This ban on exhibition of the film shall come into effect from November 22, 2017. No cinema owners or distributors shall exhibit the said movie in any cinemas or multiplexes or video-cinema or touring cinema, etc within the jurisdiction of Gujarat," said the notification issued by the state I&B department on Wednesday.

A few days back, Gujarat BJP had written to the Election Commission to ban the film in the state during the election period.

Congress supported the ban with its spokes person Shaktisinh Gohil saying the party will not tolerate any distortion of Rajput history or attempts to hurt the emotions of the community. "We will not allow the release of 'Padmavati' in Gujarat at any cost," Gohil said.

The erstwhile royals of Gujarat also supported the ban. Princess of erstwhile Rajkot royalty Kadambari Devi said, 'Padmavati' had sacrificed her life to save her self-respect. The film is playing with the feelings of Rajputs. The film should not be allowed (for release) unless necessary cuts are made."

Manubhai Patel, president, Multiplex Owners Association - Gujarat, said the ban was expected considering aggressive protests against the movie. "We were anyway anticipating trouble if the movie was released."