What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
NEW DELHI: In a major development, the Supreme Court of India on Thursday stayed the West Bengal government’s May 8 order banning The Kerala Story.
The decision holds significance as Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress government was the only one in the country to ban the movie.
Earlier, the West Bengal government argued that the film contains hate speech and is based on manipulated facts. It was also said that the movie could potentially lead to communal disharmony and law and order issues in the state.
The West Bengal government cited intelligence reports, saying that allowing the movie to be screened would have resulted in clashes among extremist groups. “Consequently, the ban was implemented to prevent any incidents of hatred and violence within the state,” the West Bengal government argued.
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On May 8, CM Banerjee announced the ban of The Kerala Story in West Bengal to avoid any incidents of hatred or violence.
“The political party plays with fire, with casteism, or divide and rule politics. Why this Kashmir Files? To humiliate one section. What is this Kerala story? A distorted story,” the mercurial Banerjee had said.
Attacking the main opposition party in the state, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Banerjee alleged that after The Kashmir Files and The Kerala Story, they are not planning Bengal Files.
“A few days ago, the party nominated and funded some stars. They came to Bengal with some distorted stories. They are preparing Bengal files,” CM Banerjee alleged.
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“They gave posters in the highest court of the state stating, “Save Bengal’. But what happened in Bengal? It’s a peace-loving state. Why is the BJP creating communal politics?” Banerjee asked.
Banerjee also said that the BJP is defaming Kerala and its people.
Terming the decision to ban the film as unfortunate, Amit Malviya, the BJP’s co-in-charge for West Bengal, said, “Mamata Banerjee’s decision to ban The Kerala Story is rather unfortunate. It raises serious questions about civil liberties and freedom of expression.”
ALSO READ: Banning ‘The Kerala Story’ in the name of Islamophobia, dangerous
“The movie is a real account of victims who have endured the horrors of demographic invasion and have been used as cannon fodder for ISIS, one of the most barbaric forces in the world. The threat has been recognised by not one but two Chief ministers of Kerala – VS Achuthanandan, who was a Communist, and Oommen Chandy, a Congressman,” Malviya had pointed out.
“Does Mamata Banerjee know about the dreaded phenomenon of Love Jihad in Kerala more than the Catholic Bishops Council, the Syro Malabar Church, The Catechesis department of the Thamarassery Diocese or the Kerala High Court, who have all spoken out against the evil design of Islamists, luring away young women in a bloody trap of death and destruction?” he said.
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Alleging that the Bengal CM is indulging in Muslim appeasement, Malviya said, “Who is Mamata Banerjee trying to please with this ban? Does she think Muslims in Bengal relate more to ISIS than the Indian Constitution? Shame on her regressive politics. There was no threat to law and order in Bengal because of the movie, which was being screened in over a dozen cinema halls in Kolkata alone.”
“Instead of protecting our daughters, Mamata Banerjee has yet again chosen to stand with radical elements,” he added.
