Bhopal, Feb 22: Following statewide protests, Madhya Pradesh Government on Friday banned screening of Ashutosh Gowarikar's 'Jodhaa Akbar'.

"Our government has suspended the screening of the movie in view of the protests at cinema halls which have posed a threat to maintenance of peace", told Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan to reporters during a meet-the-press function organised by Press Club at a City hotel on Friday.

Since its release on last Friday, cinema theatres across the State witnessed violent protest with members of members of Akhil Bharatiya Kshatriya Mahasabha and various Rajput Samaj threatening physical action if screening of the film is not stopped.

The protestors torn away film posters, pelted stones on windows and prevented screening of film for its 'social devaluation' of the community and accused Gowarikar of distorting history.

The screening of the film produced by UTV Software Communications Ltd, has been banned in accordance to provisions under the Madhya Pradesh Cinema (Regulation) Act, 1952, said Commercial Tax Department Addition Secretary D P S Parihar.

Reacting over the decision, general secretary of Madhya Pradesh Rajput Samaj Deepak Chauhan told Central Chronicle that Government's decision is a welcoming step. I thank Kshatriya Rajputs of the State who unitedly opposed the film which distorted events of history.

In Madhya Pradesh there are about 73 lakh Kshatriya Rajputs. Spread all over the State, a sizeable population of Kshatriya Rajputs are located in Gwalior-Chambal, Malwa and Baghelkhand region of the State.