VHP, Gujarat Shiv Sena seek ban on Shah Rukh Khan-starer 'Raees'

Abdul Latif

Ahmedabad: Vishwa Hindu Parishad and the Gujarat unit of Shiv Sena on Wednesday sought a ban on Shah Rukh Khan-starer 'Raees', claiming the movie 'glorifies' a real- life 'criminal'. 'Rashtra Sena', a little known outfit, has also put up banners in several parts of Surat against the Bollywood superstar and the movie, which hit the screens on Wednesday.

VHP leader Ranchhod Bharwad said the title character of 'Raees', played by Khan, is based on the life of Abdul Latif, a bootlegger-turned-politician. "India had so many great personalities on whom you can make a movie. But Khan chose Abdul Latif, who was a dreaded criminal, bootlegger and a mafia don. Khan claimed the movie is based on fictional character but everyone knows that Raees is based on Latif," said Bharwad. He also slammed SRK for casting Pakistani actor Mahira Khan as the female lead, alleging that she made anti-India statements after going back to Pakistan.

"We believe that government should ban the movie and book Khan for sedition for making such a movie," said Bharwad. The VHP leader also held Khan responsible for the death of a person at Vadodara railway station two days back, when the crowd which had gathered to have a glimpse of the actor went out of control. Police must book Khan for the death, he said. "Government should ban this movie, as it indulges in hero-worshipping of mafia dons," said Bharwad. A few VHP and Bajrang Dal workers shouted slogans outside a theatre in Valsad this morning. Police dispersed them before the situation could worsen, said a police officer.

The Gujarat unit of Shiv Sena also asked the BJP government in the state to stop the screening of 'Raees', claiming that "portrayal of Abdul Latif as a hero" would
encourage bootleggers and anti-social element. "Instead of highlighting police officers who tamed Latif, the makers have projected Dawood Ibrahim's aide Latif as a
hero of the masses," said Sena leader Ashok Sharma.