Youth outfits in Kerala to screen controversial BBC documentary on PM Modi

On Tuesday, the CPI(M)’s student wing Students Federation of India (SFI) said it would screen the documentary, which focuses on Narendra Modi and his Gujarat government’s response to the 2002 riots, on campuses. One such screening will be held at Kannur University campus on Tuesday.

The Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) – the youth wing of the CPI(M) – also announced, on its social media handles, the decision to screen the documentary in the state. A show would be held at Poojappura in Thiruvananthapuram under the aegis of the local DYFI committee.

Youth Congress state president and legislator Shafi Parambil said his outfit would screen the documentary. “For Modi and Sangh Parivar, historical facts are always on the enemy side. The days of genocide cannot be covered up using power,” he said.

Subscriber Only Stories

View All

The K Arun Prakash Interview: ‘My style is to highlight the composition a...

At international checkpoint, online system helps vehicles cross over sea...

Experts say Adani Group stock sell-off may not affect market, but deepens...

Delhi Confidential: Lok Sabha Speaker wants MPs to learn lessons from Pad...

Apply New Year promo code SD25

Reacting to the development, senior BJP leader from Kerala and Union Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan said the screening of the documentary should not be allowed in Kerala. “It is an anti-national move and the Chief Minister should intervene in the issue to stop the screening,” he said.

Muraleedharan said the screening would be tantamount to forgiving foreign moves to endanger the unity and integrity of India. “The Supreme Court has already rejected the allegations (made in the documentary). Bringing back those allegations to public debate is equal to questioning the credibility of the Supreme Court. This would re-kindle hatred,” he said.

BJP state president K Surendran wrote to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan against the screening. “Allowing screening of the documentary amounts to supporting foreign forces which want to weaken the country’s unity and sovereignty. The documentary would only help to rekindle communal hatred and shatter religious harmony in Kerala,’’ he said.

Meanwhile, the BJP’s youth wing Yuva Morcha too opposed the screening. Yuva Morcha state president C R Praful Krishnan said the move is meant to insult PM Modi. “The Yuva Morcha will strongly resist any move to screen the documentary in Kerala,” he said.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has rejected the documentary produced by BBC as a “propaganda piece” that lacks objectivity and reflects a colonial mindset. The documentary was not made available in India by BBC, but it was available on YouTube for some time.