Team Blitz India
NEW DELHI: ‘The Kerala Story’, the film on conversion that has polarised political discourse, has been given tax-free status in BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand,even as it has come under renewed attack from some opposition leaders for allegedly fuelling hatred.
As the multilingual film totted up box office numbers and controversy raged, the Supreme Court said it will hear on May 15 a plea against the Kerala High Court order refusing to stay its release.
In Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced on Twitter that the film, directed by Sudipto Sen and produced by Vipul Shah, will be-tax free in his state. His director, information, said the chief minister would watch the much discussed film along with his cabinet members on May 12.
Adityanath’s counterpart in Uttarakhand Pushkar Singh Dhami will do the same in his state, officials said. The state’s Tourism and Culture Minister Satpal Maharaj said the movie will be tax-free though a formal announcement is yet to be made.
“‘The Kerala Story’ is a film depicting the truth of how terrorism is being spread without using arms and ammunition. I think everyone should see the film,” Dhami told reporters.
The Madhya Pradesh government was the first to give the film, which released in theatres across the country last week, tax-free status.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, however, ordered an immediate ban on its screening. In Tamil Nadu, multiplexes cancelled screenings citing law and order situation and poor audience turnout.
NCP leader and former Maharashtra minister Jitendra Awhad said ‘The Kerala Story, producer should be hanged in public. “They have not only tarnished the image of Kerala but have also insulted the women of the state,” Awhad said.
As debate intensified, Uttar Pradesh’s main opposition Samajwadi Party said the state government should not use cinema and literature to impose “poisonous agenda on nation”.
