– Dr. Samanvay Nand
For a few days, the film ‘The Kerala Story’ is in nationwide discussions. The incidents of Hindu and Christian girls being converted to Islam by allurement and brainwashing have been depicted in the film. Heart-wrenching incidents of sending terrorists of dreaded terrorist organization like ISIS to become sex slaves have been shown. This film has been made after years of research. After the release of the film, girls matching its characters are coming in the media and narrating their stories. The film is being appreciated all over the country. But now the film ‘The Kerala Story’ will not be seen in West Bengal. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has decided to ban the film in the state. The logic given by Mamta Banerjee behind banning it in West Bengal is unique. He said that this has been done to avoid any incident of hatred and violence in the state, so that peace prevails in the cities of Bengal.
It is necessary to mention here that the film has been released after going through all the processes that a film has to go through before its release in the country. The Censor Board has made necessary modifications in this film after watching this film. Some dialogues have been removed. Some have been changed. A petition was filed in the Kerala High Court to ban this film but the court refused to do so. Only after this the film has been released in theaters across the country.
Despite this, Mamta Banerjee feels that the exhibition of this film in Bengal can disturb the peace of the state. Mamta Banerjee might be trying to say that the screening of this film will hurt the sentiments of a particular class and thereafter peace will be disturbed.
The film actually depicts the story of the infamous terrorist organization ISIS and its international network and dark exploits. But it is beyond understanding that why the sentiments of the Muslims of West Bengal would be hurt by showing the black exploits of ISIS, its inhuman acts? Whether the sentiments of the Muslims of West Bengal are hurt or not, Mamta Banerjee feels that this film will definitely hurt the sentiments of the Muslims. That’s why they have banned this film in the state.
By the way, from the situation in India, one thing is certain that there is no limit to when and on what issues the sentiments of Muslims will flare up. Ram Navami and Hanuman Jayanti were celebrated across the country last days. Ram Navami is celebrated on a large scale in West Bengal and processions are taken out. In West Bengal itself, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee then announced that Hindus should refrain from taking out processions on Ram Navami. Must not be removed from Muslim dominated areas. But the Hindus of Bengal following their tradition took out a procession on the day of Ram Navami in a peaceful manner.
As Mamata Banerjee had already pointed out, Muslim sentiments flared up and people in the procession were pelted with stones from the roofs of houses. Mamta Banerjee then said that she had already told that Hindus should not take out the procession but her words were ignored. By saying this, Mamta Banerjee’s police instead of arresting the attackers to establish peace in the state started arresting the people participating in the procession. However, later the Calcutta High Court snatched the investigation of this case from Mamta’s police and handed it over to the NIA.
The Stalin government in Tamil Nadu has also done the same thing regarding this film. His argument is also almost Mamta Banerjee’s argument.
Therefore, such arguments that discussions about Islamic terrorism hurt the sentiments of Muslims have a long history. In view of this, the then Home Minister of the previous UPA government, Sushil Shinde, tried to publicize the imaginary term ‘Hindu terrorism’ so that the sentiments of Muslims could be pacified. Mamta Banerjee is taking this forward.
(The author is associated with Hindusthan Samachar.)
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