By Suryagni Roy: The Supreme Court on Friday pulled up the West Bengal government over its decision to ban the release of ‘The Kerala Story‘ in the state. Responding to this, former Mizoram Advocate General and senior TMC leader Biswajit Deb said that it was not an order from the Supreme Court but a notice.
“Don’t think the decision to ban has backfired. It is a notice not an order,” said Biswajit Deb.
The TMC leader further said the film ‘The Kerala Story’ was prohibited as per Section 6 of the West Bengal Cinemas Regulation Act, 1954, which states that a film can be permanently suspended if there is any chance of it inciting violence.
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Speaking to India Today, Biswajit Deb said, “Reasonable apprehension is there that this film will lead to violence as the story is baseless and concocted to divide people on the basis of religion.”
When asked if there was no violence on the first four days of the release in other states, then why ban the movie, the TMC leader said, “Who will take responsibility if something happens? It’s the state’s duty to ensure everyone is protected and that there is no law and order problem. It was a preventive measure.”
Makers of ‘The Kerala Story’ approached the Supreme Court, seeking the removal of a ban on the film in West Bengal and its shadow ban in Tamil Nadu.
The court issued a notice to West Bengal and Tamil Nadu on a plea of producers of the movie regarding the ban. CJI DY Chandrachud said the matter will be now heard on May 17.
The CJI, while hearing petitions, said that the film has been running in other parts of the country, why it can’t be released in West Bengal?
“West Bengal is not different from the other parts of the country,” the court ruled.
