'Padmaavat' protests: Who said what, and who didn't

Congress president Rahul Gandhi condemend the Gurugram school bus attack by the anti-'Padmaavat protesters', and alleged that the ruling BJP is using "hatred and violence" to set the "country on fire".



On the other hands, Congress MP Digvijaya Singh seemed to disagree with the party supremo's viewpoint.

"Films which hurt sentiments of any religion or caste should not be made," he said.



Countering Digvijay's opinion was Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari, who described attempts to block the screening of 'Padmaavat' as "reprehensible" and questioned the Centre's silence on the matter.



Union minister V K Singh said that no one is allowed to misrepresent and distort history in the name of freedom of expression.

"Whenever we say something about history we must cross check it. Freedom of expression doesn't give us any right to tamper with history. We should pacify and resolve the situation by talking to the people who are protesting against the film. They should be asked about their concerns and objections in the film. Whenever there is a clash of interest, things will certainly be messed up," ANI quoted Singh as saying.


Adamantly opposed to the release of 'Padmaavat', BJP leader Suraj Pal Amu trained guns on the ruling dispensation for not speaking against the movie.

"We are fighting to save our history, culture and this is not just Rajput history but the history of the entire country, and the Prime Minister who talks on Ram Mandir is silent today. The BJP has been doing politics in the name of Hindutva, but none of its leaders are speaking up on Padmaavat. Why?"


BJP leader Subramanian Swamy chimed in with this bleak observation.



AIMIM chief and all-round gadfly Asaduddin Owaisi accused the BJP of being complicit in the actions of the fringe groups.

"Fringe have become the MAIN player as they have the tacit support of BJP government," Owaisi said in a tweet on Thursday.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal also blamed the BJP-led Haryana government for inaction following the attack by a violent mob on a school bus ferrying children in Gurugram.

"When they attacked Muslims all were silent; when they attacked Dalit even then all were silent; now they are coming after our children - can we still afford to be silent," the AAP convenor said later during a public meeting at Chhatrasal Stadium.


Also Read: Padmaavat Movie Review