The Bengal government told the Supreme Court the reason for banning ‘The Kerala Story’

New Delhi: The West Bengal government has told the Supreme Court that the film ‘The Kerala Story’ is based on fabricated facts and contains hate speeches that can hurt communal sentiments and create disharmony among communities, leading to the state Systematic problems may arise. Filing its affidavit before the apex court, the Mamata Banerjee government said the film could create communal disharmony and law and order situation, as revealed by various intelligence inputs. Defending its decision to ban the film, the West Bengal government stated that the screening of the film was likely to lead to conflict between extremist groups.

The affidavit states, “The said film is based on manipulated facts and contains foul language in several scenes which is likely to hurt communal sentiments and create disharmony between communities which may ultimately lead to law and order situation.” The West Bengal government said that there are intelligence inputs regarding the possibility of breach of peace due to public screening of the film.

“It will not be out of place to mention, that all the States of India differ in their population and in their beliefs, and in similar circumstances, the parameters cannot be the same for two States on any imaginable basis. The law and order, and peace in the State, lies with the Government, and restrictions, if any, imposed by the State Government are best considered and assessed by the respective High Courts, who are well aware of the pulse of the region, and Understand the intent behind such executive actions.”

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The state has decided to ban the film to avoid any incidents of hatred and violence. The affidavit further states that the ban on the release of the film is a policy decision of the Government of West Bengal which has been passed to maintain law and order. The government’s affidavit came on a plea by the filmmakers of the film challenging the ban on the film by the state. Seeking dismissal of the petition, the government said the petitioners cannot claim financial damages as a fundamental right.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has ordered an immediate ban on the screening of the film in the state “to avoid any incident of hatred and violence and to maintain peace in the state”. Earlier, the apex court questioned the West Bengal government on banning the film and said that the film is running in different parts of the country with similar demographic profile.

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“The film is releasing all over the country, why shouldn’t the West Bengal government allow it?” said a bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justice PS Narasimha. It said that if the public does not think that the film is not worth watching, they will not watch it and asked West Bengal why it should not allow the film to run.

The producers argued that the state government had no power to ban a film that had been certified by the Central Board of Film Certification for public viewing. The filmmakers’ plea states that the state government cannot cite law and order issues to stop the film’s exhibition, which would result in violation of fundamental rights.

The film shows how thousands of young women were allegedly brainwashed to join the Islamic State (IS) and migrated to countries like Syria and Afghanistan. ‘The Kerala Story’ starring Adah Sharma hit the theaters on 5 May.