The Rajput Karni Sena will appeal against the order before a double-bench of the apex court and seek a total ban on the movie after the Supreme Court on Thursday paved the way for a nationwide release of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s film ‘Padmaavat’.

In a video message, Sena president Sukhdev Singh Gogamedi said: “We will also approach the President (to demand ban on screening of ‘Padmaavat’) … We shall never allow the movie to be screened.”

He asked why Bhansali’s plea was heard within a day of filing of the writ and raised questions on the Supreme Court’s decision regarding the order.

“How can you deliver the verdict by forcefully imposing the decision on state governments? This is more like killing democracy… What is the use of forming governments if they are not allowed to take decisions? Let the Supreme Court rule the country,” he said in the video.

Gogamedi declared that thousands of women would perform “jauhar” (self-immolation) in Chittorgarh on 24 January.

Meanwhile, reacting to the apex court verdict, Rajasthan Home Minister Gulabchand Kataria said: “We have just come to know about this decision. We will study it, review it and then take a legal view on the same.”

“The state government has always placed its trust in the Supreme court and its verdict,” the Minister added.

SC’s order

A three-judge bench gave the ruling paving the way for the release of the film which has been in the centre of controversy for the past few months.

The governments in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana and Madhya Pradesh had banned the film following protests by fringe groups.

The apex court not only stayed all the “notifications and orders” issued by the states banning the release of the controversial film but also issued orders preventing any other state from banning the film.

“We direct that there shall be a stay of operation on the notification and orders issued and we also restrain other states from issuing such notifications or orders in this matter,” the bench said in its interim order.

“Creative freedom, freedom of speech and expression can’t be guillotined…artistic freedom has to be protected,” the SC said.

The bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justice A.M. Khanwilklar and Justice D.Y. Chandrachud ruled that instead of banning the film the states should ensure the maintenance of law and order.

A petition challenging the ban on the film was filed in the apex court by the producers of the film, Bhansali Productions and Viacom18 Motion Pictures.

(With agency inputs)