The Aryavarth Express
Agency(Kerala): Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has called on Doordarshan to cancel the airing of “The Kerala Story,” a film he claims could inflame communal tensions in the state ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. The movie, which depicts Hindu women being forced into converting to Islam and subsequently joining Islamic State, has been labeled by its creators as based on true events. However, the Kerala government has denounced it as a misrepresentation.
The state’s CPI (M) government and the opposition UDF coalition, headed by the Congress, have both criticized the national broadcaster’s decision, accusing it of acting as a “propaganda machine” for the BJP and the RSS. “The decision by @DDNational to broadcast the film, which incites polarization, is highly condemnable,” Vijayan posted on X. He emphasized that Kerala would firmly resist such divisive efforts.
The CPI(M) further stated that screening the film now seems to be an attempt by the BJP to bolster its political position in Kerala, a state where it has traditionally struggled to gain a foothold. The party reminded that the film had faced strong protests upon its release and noted that the censor board had cut 10 scenes from it.
V.D. Satheesan, the leader of the opposition, echoed these sentiments, denouncing the movie as a “collection of untruth” and a tactic by the Sangh Parivar to sow discord within Kerala’s secular society. He criticized the Modi administration for using Doordarshan for political purposes and announced plans to file a complaint with the Election Commission of India, arguing that the film’s screening violates the Election Code of Conduct.