Until a few months before, fringe groups like the Karni Sena and Akhil Bhartiya Kshatriya Mahasabha (ABKM) were practically unknown outfits. Their rise to fame was meteoric. After filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali announced a project Padmavati, based on the life of Rajput queen Rani Padmini as narrated in an epic poem by Malik Muhammad Jayasi in the 1500s, spokespersons of the fringe groups claiming to speak for the entire Rajput community started issuing threats and became talking head fixtures in prime time television.
Emboldened by the inaction of the government, their transgressions amplified in magnitude. Director Bhansali was physically assaulted and the sets of the movie were vandalised on multiple occasions.
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Leaders of Karni Sena threatened to cut off Deepika's nose. "Rajputs never raise a hand on women. But if need be, we will do to Deepika what Lakshman did to Shurpanakha," said Mahipal Singh Makrana in a self-made video. Members of the Akhil Bhartiya Kshatriya Mahasabha (ABKM) burnt over a hundred effigies of Padukone, announcing a reward of Rs 1 crore for anyone "burning her alive". ABKM's youth wing leader Bhuvneshwar Singh said, "Deepika should know how it feels like to be burnt alive. The actress will never know the sacrifice of the queen."
Someone threatened to behead a woman on national TV. They offered a cash reward for it. Picture any other country in the world where something like that happens. Ask yourself if that is a civilized place. Then ask yourself if we are.
— Vir Das (@thevirdas) November 19, 2017
Dear Govt. If this man isn't removed from your party, don't ever tell us you stand for safety or freedom again. Do the right thing. Do it now. pic.twitter.com/aouUqFwT4e
— Vir Das (@thevirdas) November 19, 2017
And to the media who puts the idiots from the Karni Sena on TV, milks them for ratings, publicises them enough to deliver death threats on prime time, and then backtracks saying the film is patriotic....you are just as responsible for the violation of freedom here.
— Vir Das (@thevirdas) November 19, 2017
I don't blame the Karni Sena. A moron is a moron is a moron. They'll probably be protesting UFO movies next week. I don't expect any better. I blame a media that airs death threats and a govt that does nothing about them.
— Vir Das (@thevirdas) November 19, 2017
As the threats escalated, the filmmakers decided to defer the movie's release date. But, should this be considered a new normal in the country? Are the fringe groups alone to blame? Comedian Vir Das (Netflix Special 'Abroad Understanding') does not think so.
