Union minister Giriraj Singh said on Sunday that Hindus and Muslims in India have same forefathers.
Speaking on the Ram temple issue, Singh said both Hindus and Muslims will construct it together as Muslims are not descendants of Babar, the PTI reported. "Muslims are not different. They and Hindus have the same forefathers, Lord Rama. I wish one brick is laid by a Hindu and one brick by a Muslim," he said.
Singh, who is the minister of state for micro, small and medium enterprises, said that it was unacceptable that filmmakers are showing characters such as 'Padmavati' "out of context", reported PTI.
"Mahatma Gandhi, Shivaji, Maharana Pratap, Rani Laxmi Bai and Padmavati are our ideals. Their real stories, their sacrifice in films are acceptable but depicting these characters out of context is not acceptable," said Singh.
The release of Padmavati, directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, was deferred after protests by many Rajput groups who claimed that the film was distorting history. The director's clarification that the film in no way hurts "Rajput honour and dignity" cut no ice with the agitators.
Singh said people are making films on Hindu religion and gods because Hindu religion is liberal.
(With PTI inputs)
