Padmavati comes in for stick at Dharma Sansad

Udupi: Leaders of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad(VHP) on Sunday came out strongly against the Deepika Padukone starrer  'Padmavathi,'  during the Virat Hindu Samajotsav at Udupi on Sunday evening at the conclusion of the Dharma Sansad.

VHP International working president Praveen Togadia and VHP general secretary Champat Raiji strongly opposed the release of the film during thier speeches. "Some people speak about freedom of expression when we oppose the film. But one should know that one’s freedom ends at the tip of the other’s nose. The other person has the freedom of twisting the arm when the hand comes close to his nose," he declared clearly indicating that saffron outfits had the right to oppose and protest.

"If you want to make a film, then make one about the (fall of) Afzal Khan and Sahithsa Khan. You can show the heroism of Ranjith Singh or Guru Tegh Bahadur or Guru Arjun Singh or Guru Govind Singh," he said.

"We strongly condemn attempts to disrespect Hindu sentiments. All artists and all those in the film should respect  Hindu sentiments. Theatre owners too should voluntarily refuse to screen the film," Champat Rai Ji said.

Later in his address Praveen Togadia declared that Padmavati was a motherly figure for all Hindus in the country. "We condemn any move to disrespect her.

Had she not shown heroism then today, Praveen Togadia would not have remained Praveen Togadia. We are Hindus because of her. We all remember her heroism and sacrifice. This created herosim in lakhs of Hindus which finally overthrew the tyranny of Muslim rulers," he said.

Togadia demanded a ban on the movie and challenged the director Sanjay Leela Bansali to make a movie on Prophet Mohammed.

He also thanked all state governments including the Congress government in Punjab for not allowing the screening of the movie.