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Jaipur, Jan 26: The Shree Rajput Karni Sena (SRKS) on Thursday blamed director Sanjay Leela Bhansali for the attack on a school bus at Gurgaon or Gurugram on Wednesday during a protest against his film ‘Padmaavat‘. Karni Sena patron Lokendra Singh Kalvi said Bhansali and his men were behind the attack, adding that his outfit will continue its protest against ‘Padmaavat‘, which released on Thursday.
“The attack on the school bus was not an act by any Rajput or Hindu group. I am absolutely sure that Bhansali and his network are behind the attack. It is not the dharma of a Rajput or a Kshatriya to attack children,” Lokendra Singh Kalvi was quoted as saying. “There are efforts being made to implicate and defame the Karni Sena. We will continue our protest against the film in the coming days,” he added in defiance.
A video of scared children crouching in the school bus targeted by hooligans protesting the Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s ‘Padmaavat’ triggered nationwide outrage on Wednesday. The school bus carrying children and staff was damaged in the stone-pelting, though no one was said to be injured. Video of the attack showed shattered panes lying all around inside the bus.
Lokendra Singh Kalvi further claimed that those who watched ‘Padmaavat‘ have given negative reviews. “We have received 112 videos from various sources where the general public is seen expressing their disappointment over the film. Now it’s absolutely clear that the people from all communities have given the film a big thumbs down,” he claimed. Kalvi added that Karni Sena’s ‘janta curfew’ couldn’t be a complete success because of a “north-south divide”.
‘Padmaavat‘ on Thursday released in over 4,000 screens across India — barring some states — amid high security and tension. The film did not release in BJP-ruled Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat due to protests by Shri Rajput Karni Sena over alleged distortion of Rajput history. However, it received a good response in Delhi, Mumbai and elsewhere.
‘Padmaavat’ features Deepika Padukone as Rani Padmavati, alongside Shahid Kapoor as Maharawal Ratan Singh and Ranveer Singh as Sultan Alauddin Khilji with Aditi Rao Hydari and Jim Sarbh in supporting roles. Rajput groups accused director Sanjay Leela Bhansali of portraying Padmini in an objectionable manner in the film.
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