New Delhi: Amid controversy over the release and screening of the film ‘The Kerala Story’, which claims to expose ‘hidden truth’, CPI MP Binoy Viswam has written to the Center that “the official trailer of the film is nothing but political propaganda”. formally inspired a hate campaign against Kerala and the Muslim community.” The CPI leader, in his letter to Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur, also urged him to take initiative against “false claims being made through the film”.
#TheKeralaStory , CPI MP Binoy Viswam has written to Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur saying that “the official trailer of the film is nothing but a politically motivated hate campaign against Kerala and the Muslim community.”
The MP urged him to “launch an investigation into … pic.twitter.com/UdypLrT1tz– ANI (@ANI) May 3, 2023
The makers of the film have claimed that the state has around 32,000 “missing women” converted, radicalized and deployed in terror missions in India and the world. Reacting to this, top political leaders and ministers of Kerala have now united to oppose the film. ‘The Kerala Story’, while Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Congress MP Shashi Tharoor have cited ‘Sangh propaganda’ and false claims in opposition to the film, respectively.
Tharoor took to the micro-blogging site Twitter and posted ‘This could be *your* Kerala story. This is not the story of *our* Kerala’ with the poster of the film. The poster of the controversial film shows a burqa-clad woman with a distraught expression with tears in her eyes. The poster of the film Kerala Story reads, ‘Uncovering the truth that was kept hidden’.
SC dismisses Muslim body’s plea against ‘Kerala Story’
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to entertain a plea by Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind seeking permission to screen or release the film titled ‘The Kerala Story’ by the Center and others in theatres, OTT platforms and others There was a demand not to give. Ways like that, and also that trailer should be taken off the internet.
A bench headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud said that it cannot allow the Supreme Court to become a “super article 226 court” (a super high court) and entertain everything raised using Article 32 does. Article 226 provides for the High Courts to issue or issue directions. Writes to government officials.
Advocate Vrinda Grover referred to the Muslim body’s plea before the court and submitted that the Kerala High Court was not hearing the matter ahead of the film’s release on May 5. Grover argued that they are defaming the community and propagating it as fact and at the same time, they have no rebuttal that it is a work of fiction.
Senior advocate Harish Salve pointed out that the Kerala High Court has already seized of the matter. The Chief Justice asked the petitioners to approach the Kerala High Court, which is hearing similar cases, and said that the High Courts are run by experienced judges and the Kerala High Court judges are aware of the local conditions.
The counsel representing the Muslim body said the top court may ask the high court to hear matters related to the film’s release on May 4. The film is scheduled to release on 5 May.
After hearing the submissions, the apex court said that the relief sought under Article 32 can be placed before the High Court and “we do not entertain the same on this ground and we give liberty to the petitioners to approach the High Court”. The High Court can take it up.” Looking forward to hearing soon…”
The Supreme Court on Tuesday declined urgent hearing of a plea seeking a stay on the release of the controversial film ‘The Kerala Story’.
A bench of Justices KM Joseph and BV Nagaratna said that the censor board has already cleared the film and the petitioners should challenge the certification of the film before an appropriate authority. This bench is currently hearing cases related to hate speeches. The bench said that there is a separate procedure for the exhibition of films, therefore the plea to stay the release of the film cannot be clubbed with hate speech cases.
The latest petition filed by the Muslim body said, “The film is clearly aimed at spreading hatred and enmity between different sections of the society in India. The film gives the message that non-Muslim young women will be punished after they convert to Islam.” being lured.” classmates and later, trafficked to West Asia where they are forced to join terrorist organizations.”
“The film defames the entire Muslim community and its outcome will endanger the life and livelihood of the petitioners and the entire Muslim community in our country and is in direct violation of Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution,” the plea said.
“The film gives the impression that apart from extremist clerics who radicalize people, ordinary Muslim youth, even their classmates, play a significant role in luring and radicalizing non-Muslims by presenting them as friendly and good-natured extremist scholars,” the plea said.
The plea, filed through advocate Ejaz Maqbool, has alternatively sought a direction to the Central Board of Film Certification to further identify the incendiary scenes and dialogues to be removed or show a disclaimer saying that it is fiction. There is no similarity between the characters in the film. to any person living or dead.
(with agency inputs)