Jodhaa Akbar in trouble in Gujarat too

Screening has been stopped in theatres across Ahmedabad

AHMEDABAD: After being blacked out in Rajasthan, Jodhaa Akbar is now courting trouble in Gujarat. The screening of the film has been stopped in multiplexes across the city following protests by the Rajput community.

A group of people also vandalised a single-screen cinema hall in Naroda area which was screening the movie on Sunday, police said.

“Most multiplexes have temporarily stopped screening of Jodhaa Akbar after a group of around 25 persons warned against screening the film,” president of the Multiplex Owners’ Association of Gujarat, Manubhai Patel, said.

“We are trying to convince the people of Rajput community to allow us to screen the movie,” he added.

Meanwhile, a group of around 25 people broke glass doors, windows and furniture of Galaxy Cinema Hall on Sunday, police said. Police used mild lathicharge to bring the situation under control, officials said, adding they three persons have been detained.

The police were not aware of the political or social affiliations of the group which attacked the cinema hall.

This is first such attack on a cinema hall screening the controversial film in Gujarat.
The VHP had on Saturday backed the Rajput community in their protest against the film. VHP leader Pravin Togadia said the Rajputs were justified in opposing the screening because it had “distorted” facts.

Meanwhile, according to reports coming from Surat, Rajput community members protested against the screening of Jodhaa Akbar in front of Kinnari cinema hall.

The film is being screened in presence of heavy police bandobast in most of the cinema halls and multiplexes in Surat.

The Rajputs have warned that if the screening of the film is not stopped by Monday then they will intensify their protests.