jaipur

Updated: Jan 22, 2018 22:14 IST

Former Congress MP and Union minister, Jitendra Singh on Monday added his voice to the ongoing protests against ‘Padmaavat’ and demanded action against the film-makers for distorting history and hurting sentiments of the Rajputs.

“No one has the right to present our history in a wrong manner. Padmini is a role model, a symbol of courage, not only for Rajputs, but for the entire state,” said Singh, who belongs to the erstwhile Alwar royal family.

He said it is not a question only of Rajputs. “The same thing can happen with any other community. A film that hurts sentiments of any community or distorts history should not be allowed and action should be taken against the film makers,” he said.

Singh was at the Rajput Sabha to meet community leaders, who have extended support to the Congress in the bypolls to be held on January 29. The Congress is trying to woo the Rajputs, who have been traditional BJP voters. The community wields influence on several seats in all three constituencies of Ajmer, Alwar and Mandalgarh.

Singh said in the field it is apparent that those who used to once vote for the BJP are now ready to vote for the Congress. “I want to thank the Rajput community for extending their support to the Congress,” said Singh.

Regarding the controversy over Padmaavat, he said he had made a demand that when historical films are made, their scripts should be vetted by historians and senior community representatives so that there is no misrepresentation of facts. “Why was the film allowed to be made when the Karni Sena had objected to it while it was being shot?” he asked.

On the outrage against the film, Singh said, “It is the BJP government that is responsible for the situation today in the country. If there is any violence or law and order if the film releases then they are responsible.”

The Rajput Sabha president, Giriraj Singh Lotwara said the community has decided to vote for the Congress in the bypolls, as the BJP government is harassing the community. He cited incidents such as the JDA closure of the Rajmahal Palace hotel, which is owned by the former Jaipur royal family, the alleged fake encounter of gangster Anandpal Singh, the murder of a Rajput youth in Barmer district last year and the violence at Samrau in Jodhpur district.

“Rajputs have nurtured the party and been loyal voters, but now the party is targeting us. There was a tax raid on the Rajput Sabha, which is a registered social organisation and helps all communities. But the government slapped a ₹3.5 crore service tax liability on us,” he said. “We have 23 MLAs and five ministers in the state government, but not one has spoken in our favour or helped us,” he claimed.

He said the government had been treating the Rajput community unfairly and recalled the axing of former Union minister Jaswant Singh’s ticket in the last Lok Sabha elections and the government notice to the family of former Rajasthan chief minister Bhairon Singh Shekhawat to vacate the official residence.

Singh assured the community that the Congress would right the injustices meted out to them.

Representatives of Rajput organisations such as the Rajput Sabha, Shri Rajput Karni Sena, Jai Rajputana Sangh, Charan Rajput Sabha, Ravana Rajput Sabha, Pratap Foundation, Durga Dal were present in the meeting.