Ahmedabad: The Gujarat government today
issued a notification banning the screening of Sanjay Leela
Bhansali's upcoming period drama "Padmaavat" across the state,
saying the step was necessary to maintain law and order.
Before the Assembly polls in Gujarat in November last
year, the state government had banned the movie, which was
earlier titled as "Padmavati".
While issuing the notification today, Minister of State
for Home Pradeep Singh Jadeja said the ban on the movie was
necessary to maintain law and order.
As per the notification, the ban was imposed as per the
provisions of the Gujarat Cinemas (Regulation) Act of 2004.
"In exercise conferred by sub-section 1 of section 6 of
the Act, Government of Gujarat hereby imposes the ban on Hindi
feature film 'Padmaavat'...No cinema owners or distributors
shall exhibit the said movie in any cinema/multiplex/ video
cinema/touring cinema within the jurisdiction of Gujarat," the
notification said.
It added that the ban was imposed "in public interest and
to maintain law and order situation in the state".
While talking to reporters here, Jadeja said the act had
a provision wherein the state can ban a movie if it has the
potential to dilute the law and order situation and public
order.
"We have learnt that the movie, originally named as
'Padmavati' will be released with a new name 'Padmaavat'.
However, people across the country are against the movie, as
they feel that history has been distorted. With this
notification, the movie will be considered as a non-certified
one and will not be screened in the state," said Jadeja.
The notification was issued days after the Gujarat Chief
Minister Vijay Rupani announced that the ban on the movie will
continue despite the change of name.
PTI
