The war of words between Congress MLA Irfan Ansari and State BJP leadership has intensified over controversial movie Kerala Story. The Jharkhand MLA Irfan Ansari has threatened to vandalise theatres if they screen ‘The Kerala Story’ movie. “There should be a ban on 'The Kerala Story’, and a case will be registered against the owner of the theatre that will screen the movie,” the Congress MLA said.
On Friday, various youth outfits in Kerala staged protests against the screening of the controversial multi-lingual movie. The film hit theatres across the country on Friday.
The BJP earlier alleged that there was an “unofficial” ban on releasing the movie and accused the Congress, Left party and some religious fundamentalist organisations of threatening those who came to watch the movie.
The movie, starring Adah Sharma and written and directed by Sudipto Sen, was screened in theatres across the state on May 5.
The film has been opposed by Irfan Ansari at a time when the film was praised by PM Modi himself, describing the film as good. During the election campaign in Karnataka, PM Narendra Modi had praised the film The Kerala Story and also told about the nuances of the film. Now Congress leader Irfan Ansari has announced to oppose the film in Jharkhand and has given an issue to the opposition i.e. BJP to do politics.
Meanwhile, BJP spokesperson Pratul Shahdeo has said that those who has taken the oath of faith towards the Constitution and the law, is talking about inciting violence. This is illegal. The BJP leader has demanded from the Assembly Speaker that the membership of Irfan Ansari should be terminated for such illegal statements and inciting violence. His place is in Hotwar Jail, not in the Vidhan Sabha. Shahdeo also demanded the arrest of Ansari after registering a case for his statement of inciting violence. He has been making communal statements like this just to please the minority votes.
The controversial film depicts how thousands of young women were brainwashed into joining the Islamic State (IS) and heading off to countries like Syria and Afghanistan.
Kerala Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan has accused the Sangh Parivar of trying to destroy religious harmony in the state by “sowing the poisonous seeds of communalism”.
However, the Bharatiya Janata Party has termed as “double standards” the stand of the Kerala CM and ruling CPI(M) that freedom of speech and expression could not be a justification for using cinema to spread sectarianism in the state and create divisions.