The state's ruling BJP and its arch-rival, the country's leading opposition party Congress, have finally found a subject on which they can agree as they enter into an unprecedented alliance to oppose the release of Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone's movie 'Pathaan' in India's state of Madhya Pradesh.
Protestors against the forthcoming film have included state minister Narottam Mishra, Madhya Pradesh's assembly speaker Girish Gautam and senior Congress politicians, including former federal Minister Suresh Pachouri and the leader of the opposition Dr Govind Singh.
"Shah Rukh should watch this film with his daughter, upload a picture and tell the world that he is watching it with his daughter. I challenge you to make a similar film on the Prophet and run it," Gautam told reporters in Bhopal on Monday.
And the Congress' Govind Singh and Suresh Pachouri dubbed the content of the movie as "against our values".
"It's not about Pathaan, but paridhan [clothes]," Suresh Pachouri said, before emphasizing that skimpy outfits which leave little to the imagination are not consistent with Indian customs.
Last Wednesday, Mishra threatened to block the release of 'Pathaan' if certain scenes featuring Deepika Padukone were not removed or at least "edited".
His objection was to Padukone's outfit seen in a theme song titled 'Besharam Rang' in which she can be seen disporting herself in a saffron-colored bikini.
"The costumes in the song are objectionable. The song reflects a filthy imagination," he said.
The color saffron is considered sacred in Hinduism as it is worn by holy men and thus resonates with a sense of deep respect from Hindus at large.