Row against 'Padmavati' a destruction of freedom of expression: Mamata Banerjee

Kolkata : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday condemned the ongoing controversy over Sanjay Leela Bhansali's historical drama "Padmavati", labelling it as "unfortunate" and a "calculated plan" to destroy freedom of expression.

"The #Padmavati controversy is not only unfortunate but also a calculated plan of a political party to destroy the freedom to express ourselves. We condemn this super emergency," Banerjee tweeted.

The Trinamool Congress supremo exhorted the film industry to protest in unison. "All in the film industry must come together and protest in one voice."

The film has been mired in controversy over conjectures that it "distorts history" regarding Rajput queen Padmavati, a contention that Bhansali has repeatedly denied.

Its release has been "voluntarily" deferred from its scheduled date of December 1.

Some Hindu groups have been protesting against the movie's release while some political outfits have demanded that its release be deferred in view of the Gujarat Assembly elections.

The makers have also not got clearance yet from the Central Board of Film Certification, which said the application from the makers was "incomplete".