Bengal government bans 'The Kerala Story' citing law and order issues

The West Bengal government on Monday announced its decision to ban 'The Kerala Story' keeping in view the law and order situation and to "maintain peace" in the state and avoid any incidents of crime and violence, people in the know told ET. West Bengal becomes the first state in the country to ban the screening of the movie. All screenings in Kolkata and all district theatres have been cancelled following the direction of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

"What is this Kerala Story? I don't support CPM (government in Kerala). I am talking about the people. But the Kerala government should have protested against it. Instead of me, it was their duty to protest. Why are they silent?" Banerjee said at state secretariat Nabanna on Monday. She alleged that the CPM government of Kerala is working with the BJP.

"Kerala story...it is a distorted story. Now they are defaming Kerala state and giving their narrative. What was the purpose of this 'Kashmir Files'? It is to humiliate one section of people," Banerjee said.


Banerjee also claimed that "the BJP was allegedly funding a film on Bengal on the lines of 'Kashmir Files'.

The movie had sparked a controversy as it is centred about the alleged religious indoctrination in Kerala and how Hindu and Christian women were being targeted by radical Islamic clerics. The movie claims that these women were converted to Islam and later sent to countries like Afghanistan, Yemen and Syria "to fight for the cause of Islam".

Banerjee has directed state chief secretary HK Dwivedi to ensure the film is removed from screens throughout the state. This comes a day after multiplexes across Tamil Nadu cancelled screenings of the controversial film from Sunday, citing law and order issues and poor public response.