The movie ‘Kedarnath’ featuring Sushant Singh Rajput and Sara Ali Khan has run into troubled waters. The Congress has opposed a kissing scene from the movie and demanded its removal.
The Congress’ opposition to the film
Garima Dasauni, an AICC member, said that authorities should warn filmmakers shooting at Kedarnath not to hurt religious sentiments. “Inviting Bollywood stars to shoot here is a great way of tourism, but also the government should put all the norms in front of them and tell them about the dos and don’ts. No one has the right to violate our beliefs. Char Dham, especially Kedarnath, is the most important and people believe in it,” she told ANI. Reportedly, they will also send a letter to the Prime Minister and the censor board regarding the matter.
“Hurts Hindu sentiments,” says the BJP
Earlier, a BJP leader, Ajendra Ajay, had demanded a ban on the movie as well. Apart from the kissing scene, the leader has objected to the tagline of the movie’s poster which reads “Love is a pilgrimage.” He told PTI, “By setting a romantic love story against the backdrop of a huge tragedy that occurred at the shrine, a centre of faith for crores of Hindus, the filmmakers have shown great disrespect to the followers of the religion.” Ajay said that the movie has caused “acute resentment among teertha purohits” by projecting the holy shrine in such a frivolous manner.
‘Kedarnath’ promotes ‘Love Jihad’ claim Hindu priests
Hindu Priests from Kedarnath in Uttarakhand’s Chardham have also demanded a blanket ban on the movie. “We will launch an agitation if the movie is not banned as we have been told that it hurts the Hindu religious sentiments by promoting ‘love jihad’,” said Vinod Shukla, chairman, Kedar Sabha, an organisation of priests based in Kedarnath. Reportedly, in the film a Hindu heroine is carried by Muslim hero on a palanquin with the shrine in the background.