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Home Ministry assures states of assistance in case of trouble over Padmavati screening

Published

9 years ago

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Deepika-Padukone-Padmavati

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The Narendra Modi government on Thursday came in support of screening of the movie Padmavati which has been facing protests and threats of violence if it is released from some Rajput groups.

Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Thursday assured all the states that it would give “full consideration” to any request for assistance to handle any ongoing and potential public order issues because of the controversy surrounding the upcoming Bollywood movie ‘Padmavati’.

The MHA assurance came on the heels of Supreme Court upholding right to freedom of speech and expression while rejecting a plea to ban the movie ‘An Insignificant Man’ based on Delhi Chief Minister and AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal. The film will be screened in cinema halls on Friday as scheduled.

Rejecting the plea by Nachiketa Walhakar seeking to restrain the release of the film, the bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justice AM Khanwilkar and Justice DY Chandrachud said, courts should be extremely slow in passing restrain order as there can’t be curbs on the freedom of speech and expression.

The court said that filmmakers and writers should be allowed to enjoy freedom of speech and expression, and that all creative people have the right to enjoy their works in production of films and dramas.

The release of the film Padmavati, scheduled for December 1, was in doldrums as fringe groups like Karni Sena issued threats of violence, claiming it portrayed queen Padmini in a way they found inappropriate. The film is based on a based on the legend of Rani Padmini, a Hindu Rajput queen, mentioned in Padmavat, an Avadhi poem written by Sufi poet Malik Muhammad Jayasi in 1540. It has little factual, historical basis.

This, however, did not prevent sentiments of extra-sensitive sections from getting hurt.

As the problem persisted, the MHA on Thursday assured state governments of all necessary assistance if required on account of law and order problem over the issue. “The first responder in relation to ongoing and potential public order issues are the district administration and state police under the overall guidance of the state government,” an MHA spokesperson told news agency ANI. “Any request for assistance, as and when received, will receive the fullest consideration of the ministry,” he added.

Earlier in the day, Sri Rajput Karni Sena said that they would gather in lakhs and call for a nation-wide shutdown on December 1, the release date of the movie. In Jaipur, Shri Rajput Karni Sena founder and patron Lokendra Singh Kalvi said: “Ahinsa bahut zaruri hai, hinsa toh majboori hai. Jauhar ki jwala hai, bahut kucch jalega. Rok sako toh is Padmavati ko rok lo (Non-violence is important but violence is the last resort. This is the fire of Jauhar, a lot will burn. Stop this Padmavati if you can).”

Giving the call for a nationwide strike on December 1, Kalvi said the Karni Sena will take the support of like-minded individuals and organisations. “We are not talking of a Rajasthan bandh, but a Bharat bandh on December 1,” he said.

One of Karni Sena members had, openly on TV, reportedly announced a reward of Rs 5 crore to anyone who beheads Bhansali. Police have tightened security for the filmmaker.

A Sena leader Mahipal Singh Makrana said if need be, action will be taken against Deepika Padukone, the female lead in the movie, threatening to chop off her nose and ears.

Typically wishy-washy in taking a firm stand, the Congress had said that if there are any scenes in Padmavati that hurt sentiments, they need to be reviewed.

The MHA statement becomes particularly significant in view of the fact that, in its threats of violence and free rein in multiple states, the Rajput group has been backed by many BJP leaders in senior, responsible positions.

Rajasthan Higher and Technical Education Minister Kiran Maheshwari also joined the chorus of protests , asserting that she strongly opposes the film “made purely for making money and entertainment”.

The Rajasthan Women’s Commission has also written to the Central Board for Film Certification (CBFC) to ensure that the honour of women “is not adversely affected” in the movie.

On Wednesday, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and hardline BJP leader Yogi Adityanath said the release of Padmavati on December 1 will pose a “law and order problem” for his state. The UP government has sent a letter to the information and broadcasting ministry urging it to inform the censor board about the public sentiment against the film and defer its release.

Senior home department officials are of the view that the release would come as an additional burden on the police which will be hard-pressed to ensure free and fair civic polls and the counting of votes on December 1.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s film ‘Padmavati’, starring Deepika Padukone as Rani Padmavati, Shahid Kapoor as Maharawal Ratan Singh and Ranveer Singh as Sultan Alauddin Khilji, is slated for release on December 1.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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PM Modi takes aim at critics with Dimagi Naxal remark at SRCC centenary address

PM Modi revived his dimagi Naxal remark at SRCC’s centenary celebrations and spoke about India’s development journey.

Published

60 mins ago

on

September 6, 2026

By

PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi revived his ‘dimagi Naxal’ remark while addressing the centenary celebrations of Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC) in Delhi on Saturday, using the term to criticise his opponents.

Speaking to students at the Delhi college, PM Modi described the phrase as a “homeopathic pill” and said it had prompted those he described as “dimagi Naxals” to come forward and reveal their views.

The prime minister also used his address to speak to Gen-Z about India’s development journey and asked students to consider the challenges the country had faced in the past.

PM Modi recalls past crises

During his speech, PM Modi referred to the 2013 Kedarnath disaster and the 2008 global financial crisis while criticising the handling of national emergencies by previous governments.

He said the government at the time of the Kedarnath disaster was shaken and questioned its ability to respond to the crisis.

Referring to the 2008 banking crisis, PM Modi alleged that the government of the time failed to effectively deal with the situation and claimed that India’s banking system was pushed close to collapse.

Prime minister lists challenges faced by his government

PM Modi also highlighted several major global crises that occurred during his government’s tenure.

He mentioned the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war, disruptions to global trade and supply chains, and the crisis in West Asia.

The prime minister said there had been concerns that India would struggle during these crises but argued that the country had continued to move forward.

PM Modi’s earlier SRCC visit

PM Modi had earlier visited SRCC in 2013, when he was the chief minister of Gujarat. His speech at the college received significant attention, particularly on social media, ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha election.

His latest visit came during the college’s centenary celebrations, where his address focused on young people, India’s development ambitions and the challenges faced by the country.

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India Metro Rail Network May Overtake US in 2 Years

India’s metro rail network has reached 1,170 km across 26 cities. Union minister Manohar Lal said the country could overtake the US in network length within two years.

Published

15 hours ago

on

September 5, 2026

By

Manohar Lal Khattar

India is on track to become the country with the second-largest metro rail network in the world after China, with Union Minister Manohar Lal saying the country could overtake the United States within the next two years.

India’s metro rail network has now expanded to 1,170 km across 26 cities. The network is only 216 km shorter than the US metro rail network, which stands at 1,386 km, according to figures cited by the minister.

India’s metro network expands rapidly

Speaking after the inauguration of an extended metro service in Indore, Manohar Lal highlighted the pace at which metro connectivity has grown in India.

He said metro services were operational across just 245 km in five cities when Prime Minister Narendra Modi assumed office in 2014. The network has since expanded to 1,170 km across 26 cities.

The minister said India could overtake the US in terms of metro rail network length in the next two years and become the world’s second-largest country in this segment after China.

China currently has around 8,000 km of metro rail lines, according to the figures cited by the minister.

Indore metro extension inaugurated

The minister made the remarks after inaugurating an extended section of the Indore metro. The project was built at a cost of around Rs 2,850 crore.

The Indore metro was earlier operating commercially on a six-km stretch between Gandhi Nagar and Super Corridor-3 stations. Following the extension, the service will operate on a 17-km route between Gandhi Nagar and Malviya Nagar Chauraha.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said the metro service would mark a new phase in Indore’s development. He also said the network would eventually be extended to Ujjain and other nearby areas.

India’s metro rail network: Key figures

  • India currently has 1,170 km of operational metro rail network.
  • Metro services are operational across 26 cities.
  • The US has around 1,386 km of metro rail network.
  • India is currently 216 km behind the US.
  • China has around 8,000 km of metro rail lines.
  • India’s operational network stood at 245 km across five cities in 2014.

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PM Modi returns to SRCC after 13 years, revisits 2013 glass full speech

PM Narendra Modi returned to SRCC after 13 years for its centenary celebrations, revisiting themes from his landmark 2013 address.

Published

16 hours ago

on

September 5, 2026

By

PM Narendra Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi returned to Delhi University’s Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC) on Saturday, 13 years after his previous visit to the institution as Gujarat chief minister. 

His latest visit came as SRCC marked its centenary celebrations. Modi’s 2013 address at the college had attracted significant attention as he spoke about India’s youth, governance and the country’s demographic potential.

In 2013, Modi was Gujarat chief minister and had not yet been named the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate. He returned to the same campus this year as Prime Minister, having completed 12 years as Prime Minister and serving his third consecutive term. 

What PM Modi said at SRCC in 2013

The 2013 lecture was titled Emerging Business Models in the Global Scenario. The address also covered governance and India’s young population.

He described India’s youth as a source of national strength rather than simply a group of new-age voters. He also highlighted India’s demographic advantage and argued that the country needed to make better use of its young population.

One of the notable moments from the speech involved a glass of water.  Modi contrasted the conventional descriptions of a glass as half full or half empty and said he viewed it as full, with half containing water and the other half air.

The speech also included his remarks on technology and young Indians. Referring to an anecdote from a visit to Taiwan, Modi used the phrase “mouse-charmers” to describe Indians using computers and suggested that young Indians had the ability to influence the world through technology.

‘Minimum government, maximum governance’

Modi’s 2013 address also touched on governance. He spoke about the role of government and the need for better governance.

He also spoke about India’s potential in the 21st century. 

Modi returns as PM for SRCC centenary

The September 5 visit coincided with Teachers’ Day and SRCC’s 100th anniversary. The Prime Minister’s Office had announced that Modi would participate in the college’s centenary celebrations and address the gathering. SRCC was established in 1926 by industrialist and philanthropist Sir Shri Ram.

Earlier this year, Modi also met the SRCC governing body at his residence in April in connection with the college’s centenary celebrations and released a commemorative postage stamp marking the occasion. 

The return to SRCC came 13 years after his 2013 appearance at the college, when he addressed students as Gujarat chief minister.

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