The West Bengal government on Monday announced its decision to ban ‘The Kerala Story’. The film, which has sparked outrage since its trailer was released, is facing significant protest in numerous states.
Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee made the announcement at the state secretariat on Monday. The statement occurred just minutes after Mamata Banerjee alleged that “the BJP was funding a film on Bengal on the lines of Kashmir Files.”
The Bengal chief minister has ordered the state chief secretary to ensure that the film is removed from screens running it in the state. Mamata Banerjee stated that the decision was made to “maintain peace in Bengal” and to prevent hate crimes and violence.
This comes a day after multiplexes across Tamil Nadu halted screenings of the controversial film beginning on Sunday, citing law and order concerns and a lack of public response.
‘The Kerala Story’ film is about alleged religious indoctrination in Kerala and how extremist Islamic clerics are targeting Hindu and Christian women. According to the film, these women were converted to Islam and then transferred to nations such as Afghanistan, Yemen, and Syria “to fight for the cause of Islam.”
