30 Hindu Extremists Held For Violence During ‘Pathaan’ Screening In India

At least 30 Hindu extremists were taken into custody for their acts of violence during the screening of film ‘Pathaan’ in Indian cinemas.

The Deepika Padukone and John Abraham-starrer had its tickets sold in millions as fans queued to watch the film after its release in the country today, according to IANS.

The report said that at least 30 rioters were booked for indulging in violence and their attempts to bring the screening to an end.

The hooligans stormed two of the theaters and tore the posters down, as security was tightened further.

Last month, members of the extremist Hindu nationalist party Bajrang Dal destroyed the posters of film Pathaan in Gujarat.

In a video shared on Twitter, members of the group can be seen tearing the promotional material apart.

The hardliners then began to threaten the staff at the Multiplex cinema and asked them to suspend the screening.

In the same month, BJP’s leader Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra asked authorities to fix the objectionable part of Besharam Rang, the film’s song.

Mishra was quoted as saying by the ANI news agency that the “costumes in the song at first glance are objectionable. It is clearly visible that the song of the film Pathaan has been shot with a dirty mindset.”

He had said, “I don’t think this is right, and I will tell the director and makers of the film to fix it.”

The minister had also objected to the way “saffron and green have been worn, the colours of the song, the lyrics and the title of the film are not peaceful,” saying, “it needs improvement.”

He went on to add that they will “consider prompt action” if the film was not ‘fixed’ as suggested.

The Siddhartha Anand film features Shahrukh Khan, the protagonist (who is appearing in a film after a gap of four years) as a RAW agent, Deepika Padikone as a cop, John Abraham as a Russian agent, and others.

According to a report, India is passing through a very difficult and painful patch in its history. It is embroiled in massive poverty, hunger, unemployment, lack of healthcare, skyrocketing prices, etc. and so the films should deal with some social issues, and not be just to provide entertainment.