'Standing up for such terrorists?' Anurag Thakur slams Bengal govt on 'The Kerala Story' ban

Union Minister Anurag Thakur on Monday slammed the West Bengal government for banning 'The Kerala Story'.

"Their (opposition) face is getting exposed. They are doing appeasement and vote bank politics. West Bengal has done immense injustice by banning the movie. Recently only, a girl was raped and murdered in Bengal. Everybody saw how her body was dragged by the police," the ANI quoted the Information and Broadcasting Minister as stating.

He said, "I want to ask what are you (Mamata Banerjee) getting by standing up for such terrorists. What do you get by promoting such an ideology? Such actions provide support to ISIS and other terrorist forces,"

The Minister claimed that the movie brings the truth forward in front of the people. "The movie leaves you stunned. It shows how Indian daughters are trapped in the name of love, and recruited in terror organisations. The girls are taken showing heaven but are instead sent to hell," he said.

The West Bengal government on Monday announced that the controversial movie 'The Kerala Story' is being banned in the state to avoid "any incident of hatred and violence".

"The West Bengal govt has decided to ban the movie 'The Kerala Story'. This is to avoid any incident of hatred and violence, and to maintain peace in the state," ANI quoted Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in a tweet.

The story of the movie revolves around three women who are converted and then sold off as sex slaves to the Islamic State. The political parties in Kerala opposed the release of the movie claiming that 'The Kerala Story' projects the state and Muslims in a bad light. Also, leaders had expressed fears that the flick might disturb the peace.

Petitions were filed in courts seeking a ban, but the attempts have gone in vain as the High Courts and the Supreme Court have refused to halt the release of the flick.

The West Bengal BJP on Monday slammed the TMC government over its decision to ban the controversial movie.

"The TMC talks about free speech and freedom of expression. By banning the film, they have proved whom they are supporting. "The film is against terrorism and ISIS. By banning a film which exposes their modus operandi, are they (TMC government) supporting terrorism? This has been done to appease a section of the minority community," BJP national vice-president Dilip Ghosh said.

Meanwhile, the movie has minted Rs 35.25 crore at the India box office in its first weekend.

With inputs from ANI