The ruling Congress in Madhya Pradesh has denied banning ‘The Accidental Prime Minister’, a biopic on former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, which many believe gives a dim view of the Congress.
As one leader called for a ban and even wrote to the filmmakers, the Madhya Pradesh Congress spokesperson said there was no ban or any demand for it either.
Congress media in-charge Narendra Saluja said, “The film is so lowdown that we don't even want to discuss it. We don't want to give any unnecessary publicity to this film by protesting against it.”
Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala also tweeted a denial accusing the BJP of spreading fake propaganda. "This is incorrect. MP Govt has taken no such decision," Surjewala tweeted.
The clarifications followed a Congress leader aggressively declaring that the film would not be allowed in Madhya Pradesh, which recently witnessed a regime change after 15 years with the Congress taking over from the BJP.
Kamal Nath took over as chief minister of the new Congress government last week.
"I have written a letter to the director, we strongly object to the name and what was shown in the trailer. We want to see the film before it is released or else, we won't allow its screening in the state," said Syed Zafar of the Madhya Pradesh Congress.
"Manmohan Singh is an intellectual leader. Using words like "accidental" prime minister is very wrong and we will not allow such a film," he warned.
The Congress has accused the BJP of trying to capitalize on the film at a time the country is preparing for the national election due by May.