The Shree Rajput Karni Sena on Thursday denied any role in stone pelting on a school bus in Gurugram in Haryana over the screening of ‘Padmaavat’ film.

Karni Sena spokesperson, Vijendra Singh, said: “Rajputs can never even think of attacking a school bus. This is a plot being created by politicians, who wish to weaken our peaceful protest.”

“We have a history of leading from the front. We have never run away…,” he said, adding those who pelted stones were not known to anyone “and hence Karni Sena was being blamed”, he said.

“No one saw who attacked the bus and yet we were blamed. Is there any logic in this immediate judgement?” Singh asked.

“Since the start of the protest, we have been calling for a peaceful movement. We have called for a peaceful janta curfew for today (Thursday) as well. Rajputs can never engage in violence with the innocent. They can never throw stones. We strongly deny our role in any such episode,” said the spokesperson.

Singh also questioned the role of the electronic media, and said, “had the print media not been there, the electronic media might have killed the base of the fourth pillar of democracy by showing anything without verification.”

The Karni Sena has been protesting vociferously against and has demanded a ban on Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s “Padmaavat”, which they say distorts history.

On Wednesday, around 25 students of G D Goenka World School were on their way home when a group of around 60 activists, believed to be members of a fringe group, attacked the bus with bamboo sticks asking the driver to stop the vehicle.

Buses were torched and vehicles damaged as fringe groups ran amok in Gurugram and Rohini in West Delhi as protests against the release of Padmaavat intensified on Wednesday, 24 January.

Mobs were seen pelting stones at the vehicles. A Haryana Roadways bus was set on fire by the miscreants who demanded that the Sanjay Leela Bhansali film should not be screened in theatres.

School closed in Gurugram

After the attack on a school bus by anti-‘Padmaavat’ protestors, some schools in Gurugram will remain closed till Sunday in view of the violence over the controversial film’s release.

The management of the schools confirmed that they would close down as a precaution despite the district administration and the Gurgaon police assuring adequate security.

The schools which will be shut down till Sunday include Pathways school, GD Goenka school, Shiv Nadar school and Delhi Public School.

Section 144 imposed

“Some people and groups want rioting in the district but we appeal to residents and groups not to violate law and order situation and Section 144 is already imposed in the city,” said Gurgaon Deputy Commissioner Vinay Pratap Singh.

Singh also said that everyone has the right to protest but in a peaceful way.

The Gurgaon police have arrested 20 people for allegedly violating prohibitory orders, a senior official said.

(With agency inputs)