‘BJP setting country on fire’. PM Modi faces criticism from all quarters over ‘Padmaavat’ violence

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s silence on the eruption of violent protests in BJP-ruled states by right-wing cultural outfits is raising hackles in opposition as well as among his own supporters.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi hit out at the BJP after a school bus in Haryana's Gurugram was attacked by Karni Sena supporters over the release of 'Padmaavat' and accused the party's "hatred politics" for "setting the nation on fire".

"There will never be a cause big enough to justify violence against children. Violence and hatred are the weapons of the weak.

"The BJP's use of hatred and violence is setting our entire country on fire," Gandhi said in his tweet hours after a video of scared children crouching in the school bus targeted by hooligans protesting the Sanjay Leela Bhansali movie prompted nationwide outrage on Wednesday.

A Haryana Roadways bus was also set ablaze and another vandalised in Bhondsi area of Gurugram district by a group of around 50 men to protest against the release of "Padmaavat".

The mob also pelted stones at Haryana Police personnel deployed on the Gurugram-Alwar National Highway, injuring a few policemen.

The school bus carrying children and staff was damaged in the stone-pelting, though no one was said to be injured. Images showed shattered panes lying all around inside the bus.

Following the attack, many schools in Gurugram decided to remain closed till January 29.

As reports of members of Karni Sena and affiliated outfits burning down vehicles during violent demonstrations poured in from BJP-ruled states including Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, besides Haryana, some of PM Modi’s more vocal supporters have started to question their leader.

“The fringe has now dangerously moved to the centre and silence is no longer an option. Violence by Karni Sena must be put down ruthlessly. And PM must speak up that this *not* the India we will celebrate on Republic Day,” right-wing columnist and former PMO official in Atal Bihar Vajpayee government Kanchan Gupa wrote on his Twitter.

Another Twitter user, followed by PM Modi himself, bleated on:

The Supreme Court had last week paved the way for the nationwide release of "Padmaavat", by staying the ban on its screening in Gujarat and Rajasthan.

The film, starring Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor and Ranveer Singh, is based on the saga of the 13th Century battle between Maharaja Ratan Singh of Mewar and Sultan Alauddin Khilji of Delhi.

(With PTI and IANS inputs)