New Delhi: The Congress and CPI(M) have strongly objected to Doordarshan’s resolution to display screen the controversial movie The Kerala Story, with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan saying that the general public service broadcaster “should not become a propaganda machine of the BJP-RSS combine” and should withdraw its resolution, contemplating the upcoming polls.
The Kerala Congress in the meantime approached the Election Fee of India (ECI) Friday to cease Doordarshan from telecasting the film.
In an X publish Thursday, Doordarshan — which remains to be probably the most broadly seen TV channel in India — introduced that it will likely be screening the movie Friday, describing it as “the story of Kerala that shook the whole world!”
Vijayan Thursday condemned Doordarshan’s resolution in an X publish, asserting that Kerala “will remain steadfast in opposing such malicious attempts to sow hatred”.
केरल की वो कहानी जिसने पूरी दुनिया को झकझोर कर रख दिया!
दूरदर्शन आपके लिए लाया है ब्लॉकबस्टर फिल्म #TheKeralaStory। @sudiptoSENtlm के दमदार निर्देशन के साथ इस फिल्म में नजर आएंगे @adah_sharma, योगिता बिहानी, @soniabalani9 और @Pranavmisshra जैसे शानदार सितारे। देखना न… pic.twitter.com/vGTCP6536i
— Doordarshan Nationwide दूरदर्शन नेशनल (@DDNational) April 5, 2024
The choice by @DDNational to broadcast the movie ‘Kerala Story’, which incites polarisation, is very condemnable. The nationwide information broadcaster mustn’t change into a propaganda machine of the BJP-RSS mix and withdraw from screening a movie that solely seeks to exacerbate…
— Pinarayi Vijayan (@pinarayivijayan) April 4, 2024
In a letter to the ECI, the Congress’s V. D. Satheesan, who’s Chief of Opposition within the Kerala meeting, wrote, “As you are aware, Kerala Story is a propaganda film based on extremely false premises and attempts to paint a bleak picture of the people of the state. It is also in violation of model poll conduct, which forbids any effort to divide society on religious lines. In light of these contentions, I request your good self to direct Doordarshan to withdraw from its decision.”
He additional wrote that the “decision by the central government to telecast the movie via Doordarshan before the Lok Sabha elections is a tacit effort to divide society on religious grounds to further the electoral prospects of the ruling BJP”.
“The decision of Doordarshan is a direct insult to the people of Kerala. It is also in violation of model poll conduct, which forbids any effort to divide society on religious lines,” he additional wrote within the letter, which he shared on X.
Requested @ECISVEEP to cease telecast of #KeralaStory as it’s a malicious try to divide society&unfold falsehood. Any try to depict Kerala in a adverse & dishonest approach must be stopped. #Doordarshan has change into a SanghParivar device spreading mistaken and propogandist content material pic.twitter.com/VeSTAWsdls
— V D Satheesan (@vdsatheesan) April 5, 2024
Congress chief Shashi Tharoor additionally commented on the transfer whereas talking to ANI. “To be honest, it’s really shameful. When The Kerala Story came out, everyone pointed out that this was not the real Kerala story. Kerala is a state of social harmony and co-existence and not a state that is some sort of Pakistan that this movie wants to show. And yet, the lies of this film being officially circulated by an official broadcaster is truly disgusting, it’s propaganda at its cheapest and worst…,” the company quoted him as saying.
#WATCH | On Doordarshan to broadcast the film – ‘Kerala Story’, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor says, “To be honest, it’s really shameful. When the Kerala Story came out, everyone pointed out that this was not the real Kerala story. Kerala is a state of social harmony and… pic.twitter.com/p6hmbhXYH6
— ANI (@ANI) April 5, 2024
Additionally registering its protest towards the choice, the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), the youth wing of the ruling CPI(M), stated it will organise a protest march to the Doordarshan workplace within the state capital.
Based on an ANI report, CPI(M) MP A. A. Rahim instructed the media Friday: “Do not make Doordarshan a hate factory…this is a challenge to constitutional values.”
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The Kerala Story controversy
The Sudipto Sen-directed The Kerala Story, starring Adah Sharma — which was launched in Might final 12 months, discovered itself on the centre of an argument from the second the trailer was launched. Based mostly on a gaggle of Muslim ladies becoming a member of the Islamic State, it sparked an enormous political row and large protests.
West Bengal had even banned the movie. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had stated it was made to “humiliate a section of society”.
The movie’s trailer initially claimed it was primarily based on the “heartbreaking and gut-wrenching stories of 32,000 women” who had purportedly joined ISIS, however was later modified on YouTube after large backlash. The modified trailer claimed the movie was primarily based on “true stories of three young girls from different parts of Kerala”.
Many known as out the makers for making a film that might result in communal tensions towards Muslims.
Later, the Kerala Excessive Court docket had refused to remain the discharge of the movie, stating that the film trailer didn’t include something offensive to any specific neighborhood as an entire, stating that the Central Board of Movie Certification (CBFC) had examined the film and located that it appropriate for public exhibition.
(Edited by Gitanjali Das)
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