Sarv samaj closes Chittorgarh Fort to protest against movie Padmavati

CHITTORGARH: The curtains came down on the

Chittorgarh fort

banning entry of tourists to this historic place in what is perhaps the first of its instance. The historic decision is yet another landmark in the move towards a growing outcry in the state for banning Bollywood movie 'Padmavati'.

Right from the wee hours in the morning, a curtain was put up across the maingate at Padal Pole prohibiting entry of one and all in the fort. Men and women dressed in traditional Rajput attire with swords hung across their side took command of the fort under the banner of Sarv Samaj samiti.

Next, a gunshot was fired in the air to commence the round of speeches that was underlined with valour, respect and preserving Mewar's pride even at the cost of laying down one's life. Cries of 'Har Har Mahadev,' 'Jai Jai Rana Pratap Jai Jai Rani Padmini and Jai Jai Panna Dhai' rendered the air near the fort periodically and the microphone was passed from one to next.

The protest met atleast one of its objective as the Palace on Wheels was diverted and not allowed to stop at Chittorgarh and was bypassed to Udaipur.

"Just one shot has been fired today but if the movie is not banned then gun and cannons will blaze till Delhi and Dubai," said KP Singh, the Udaipur chief of the Karni Sena. Why can't the Centre pay Bhansali Rs 160 crore and take away the movie," questioned another.

"Go to every house and ask them to give one person each to take the protest forward. This movement should not stop until the film is banned even if a river of blood flows from the historic Padal Pole," said Rohit Gopal, a local religious Saint in Chittorgarh.

The CM who often boosts that she is a Rajput married in the family of Jats and is the mother-in-law of a Gujjar shoud come down and see how people cutting across caste and creed have assembled here at the fort for the cause of Rani Padmini," said

Yug Pradeep Singh

, a member of a Samithi.

The strong presence of Shatranis (Rajput women) holding swords and raising slogans in the midst of the speeches marked an unusual move when ladies from the Rajput community took to protest and demonstrations. Kirti Raj Singh Mitwal, president of Sri Karni Sena, Madhya Pradesh in a Rajputi poshak threatened to go to any extent to stop the release of the film. "Rajput women have inherited the courage, valour and bravery from our mother Rani Padmini. We can strike anyone like our male counterparts for our honour,'' said Mitwal.

The local administration has deployed sufficient force to control law and order situation. A three layered barricade ring was formed to stop foreigners from crossing barricade and go towards the fort. However, some foreigners managed to sneak in close to the protest site.

Marcel Eger, a tourist from Swizerland holding a camera reached till some yards before the protest site. A police constable rushed in requesting him to step away and preventing him from taking pictures. "I was not aware of any such problem in Chittorgarh. The protesters looked angry and I think its better to leave the city," said Eger.

"This is the first time after Independence that the gates to the fort has been closed. In Maharaj's time the gates would be closed after dusk till dawn for security," said Lokender Singh Chundawat, spokesperson Jauhar Seva Sansthan.

The one day closure of the fort is expected to last till dusk and will end by planning the next move of the Samiti.