Karni Sena threat: CBFC chief not to attend Jaipur Lit Fest

TIL Desk/National/Mumbai/ Censor Board chief Prasoon Joshi has said that he will not attend Jaipur Literature Festival this year. His statement comes after the Rajput Karni Sena threatened to disrupt his address at the Lit Fest, to protest clearance of the movie Padmaavat by the Central Board of Film Certification.

‘Will not be attending #JLF (Jaipur Lit Fest) this year and must say will miss sharing great moments with literature and poetry lovers. ‘I am doing this so that the dignity of the event does not get compromised or discomfort caused either to the organisers, fellow writers or the attendees,’ Joshi said.

‘I did my job and sincerely took a sensitive and balanced call. Certification was done with due processes, incorporating valid suggestions whilst staying mindful to concerns of society and cinema. Sad that we are not relying on genuine peaceful dialogue,’ Joshi was quoted as saying.

Earlier, Karni Sena had said it will protest censor board chief Prasoon Joshi’s lecture at Jaipur Literature Festival. The fringe group, which has been protesting against Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Padmaavat was upset at the CBFC for clearing the movie after suggesting some modifications.

“We don’t want to hear his lecture. He has put the pride of Rajasthan at stake. How can he deliver a lecture here after humiliating us? People of Rajasthan don’t want such lectures. We will protest against him,” president of the group Mahipal Singh Makrana said.