Padmavati row: BJP MLA Raj Purohit threatens to slap Shashi Tharoor over his remark against Rajputs

Addressing a group of protesters against the release of film Padmavati, a BJP leader from Mumbai, Raj Purohit threatened to slap Congress leader Shashi Tharoor for making remarks against Rajputs.

Addressing a group of protestors against the release of film Padmavati, a BJP leader from Mumbai, Raj Purohit threatened to slap Congress leader Shashi Tharoor and even used unparliamentary words.

He also told the gathered crowd that he was an elected leader and should not be using such abusive language and all elected MLAs have to maintain a decorum.

The protest was held at Azad Maidan by Mumbai Rajput Chatriya Samaj, which according to protestors was only a trailer as a bigger protest is planned for Monday. Purohit urged protestors to come out in large number in the coming week.

Starting his speech accusing Padmavati film maker Sanjay Leela Bhansali of turning the history of Rajputs on its head, Purohit said, "He is making the queens dance. There were women dancers to do that. queens never danced like dancers. He is degrading our history."

Referring to Tharoor's statement about the Rajputs now attacking Bhansali while they had actually sided with the Britishers during the British occupation of India, Purohit said, "I will not slap Bhansali. But, I am more upset with Shashi Tharoor. He had no business talking about Rajputs and Padmavati film issue. But, the man who has killed his wife using a poison which no one has been able to detect, is telling us that we did not fight the Britishers? Did his father do it then? If, we had not fought the Britishers then, and had not stood at the border then there would have been no temples in the country."

Tharoor was in Mumbai on Thursday for a literature festival and had made the remarks while discussing a book.

Attacking the "English speaking people", who questioned the existence of even Lord Rama and Padmavati, Purohit explained that these ancient histories have passed on from one generation to the other and that's how people know about their past.

Meanwhile, on Friday Maharashtra Minister of State for Home (rural) Deepak Kesarkar assured that adequate security would be provided for the release of film Padmavati. Bhansali himself has been given round the clock security owing to various threats being meted out to him from across the country over the film.

News Source IndiaToday (News India)