The Kerala Story: BJP CMs show their support by turning up to watch the film

On Tuesday, the Adityanath-led BJP government declared the film tax-free in the state, the second BJP-ruled state to do so after Madhya Pradesh. This prompted the Opposition Congress to accuse the Adityanath government of doing it for “cheap political gains”.

Goa CM Pramod Sawant also watched the film on Friday, later telling the media: “The actual story of how ISIS, a terrorist organisation, is involved in conversions and terrorist activities worldwide…in Syria, Pakistan, Afghanistan and other countries including some parts of India…that actual story has been depicted in the film. I recommend that youngsters and their parents watch the film to know the reality and be alert about such issues. It is the need of the hour to stop terrorism. Young children are being brainwashed and trapped. People should watch the film even if it’s not tax free,” he said.

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, who also watch the film, attacked the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) for banning the film in West Bengal, saying the film was not against any community but against terrorism. “They have banned the film as they are under the impression that it is against the Muslim community but that is not true. They should have first seen the film before banning it. Then, they would have realised that the movie has nothing to do with religion,” he said.

The CM said the movie exposes the “brutal designs of terrorist organisations in the name of religion”.

Sarma appealed to the people of Assam to watch the film with their families, particularly with girl children. He also urged parents to keep a watch on children and with whom they forge friendships.

At an election rally in Karnataka on May 5, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had referred to the movie and accused the Congress of having a “backdoor understanding with terror groups”. He also said that the Congress’s “situation” ahead of the state’s May 10 elections was “so bad” that the party was “taking issue” with him “chanting Jai Bajrang Bali’.

“There was a lot of discussion about The Kerala Story, which discusses ploys to make the country hollow from within. They say the movie is based on the terrorist plots in just one state…such a beautiful state where people are hard working and talented. The Kerala Story has exposed the terror conspiracies. But look at the misfortune of the country. The Congress today is standing with such terror elements that have destroyed the nation. The Congress has a backdoor understanding with them. People of the state should be wary of the Congress…It has surrendered in front of terrorists to appease its vote bank,” Modi said.

The Supreme Court has questioned West Bengal’s ban on the film, asking why it did so “if the film can run in peace in other parts of the country”. A Bench of Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justice P S Narasimha also asked the M K Stalin government in Tamil Nadu, where the filmmakers alleged there is a de facto ban on its screening, what administrative arrangements had been made to ensure its smooth running.