Uproar In Rajasthan Assembly Over Section 144 Imposed In Kota Over Screening Of 'The Kashmir Files'

On Monday, Section 144 of the CrPC was imposed for one month in Rajasthan's Kota. This decision has been taken to maintain law and order during the screening of 'The Kashmir Files'.

Rajasthan legislative assembly in Jaipur (FIle photo: getty)

New Delhi: A ruckus was seen in the Rajasthan Assembly on Tuesday as BJP MLAs protested against the imposition of prohibitory orders in Kota from March 22 to April 21 in order to maintain law and order during the screening of the film 'The Kashmir Files.'

 Kota BJP MLA Sandeep Sharma raised the issue during the zero hour. He was upheld by other BJP MLAs, prompting the ruckus in the Assembly.

Meanwhile, the Kota administration explained through a tweet that there is no prohibition on watching the film and its screening in cinema halls of the district.

On Monday, Section 144 of the CrPC was imposed for one month in Rajasthan's Kota. This decision has been taken to maintain law and order during the screening of 'The Kashmir Files' as per the order of the District Collector.

The order said that in view of sensitive festivals like Mahavir Jayanti, Good Friday, Vaishakhi etc. as well as the film 'The Kashmir Files' being screened in cinemas, it is necessary to ban crowd gatherings, demonstrations, gatherings and processions. Section 144 will be applicable in the district from March 22 to April 21. That is, more than 5 people gather can not gather at one place for one month.

Reacting to it, Kota BJP MLA Sandeep Sharma in the Assembly asked, "What kind of order has been issued by the administration? The movie has been released across the country. Is the district administration incapable of handling law and order."

J P Chandelia, who was presiding over the House procedures around then, mediated, urging members to maintain order.

He said the issue has been brought to the notification of the government and requested the members to sit.

Deputy Leader of Opposition Rajendra Rathore said his party will give prior notification on the issue and look for the government's reply.

The Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha will hold a dissent against the move in Jaipur on Wednesday.

Its state chief Himanshu Sharma said the wing's national president Tejasvi Surya will lead the protest.

For what reason was the movie's name mentioned in the order, he asked looking for an explanation.

"The way the order has been released is illegal, undemocratic and unconstitutional," Sharma told reporters at a press conference.

He said in the event that the request isn't denied, the BJYM will launch a state-wide protest.

Sharma said the request has been given to please political bosses and create a fear among the people who need to watch the film.

Films are a medium to express views and to bring forth the incidents that happened in history, he said.

"Why there is fear in Congress about it? Because their intentions are wrong," he said.

In the interim, Kota's Acting DM Raj Kumar Singh told PTI that the language of the prohibitory request was misconstrued, which created confusion.

In any case, there was no word in the request to show restriction on the screening of the film and people watching it in cinema halls, he said.

"The Kashmir Files" can be screened in cinema halls and people can watch it during the enforcement period of Section 144, he said, adding that the prohibitory orders were forced for the safety of individuals.

(With PTI inputs)