Mangaluru: A couple of days after Shri Vijay Mahantesh Ayurvedic Medical College in Karnrataka's Bagalkot issued a circular for its girl students mandating them to watch the controversial "The Kerala Story" movie, the institution administration itself withdrew the circular after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's direct intervention.
The notice had ordered every "lady student" to watch the film, which claimed at first that 32,000 Kerala non-Muslim women were brainwashed through Love Jihad and trafficked to various nations for alleged terrorist operations. Later the count came down to three on YouTube, where the trailer was released.
A circular, dating 23rd May, read, "It is hereby informed to all the lady students from 1st BAMS to final BAMS and 1st year PG to final year PG students that for you tomorrow, i.e. on 24.o5.2023 all of you go to "Srinivas Talkies" to see Kerala Movie from 12:00 pm t0 3:00 pm. You have to attend only the morning class from 9:00 am to 11:00 am. You can see the movie free of cost. Afternoon classes are suspended tomorrow. All of you must see the movie." The notice was clearly signed by the institution's principal.
Kannada writers K. Marulasiddappa, SG Siddaramaiah and education activist V. P. Niranjanaradhya under the leadership of Karnataka Jagura Nagarikaru organization, wrote to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. The Chief Minister directed Bagalkot District Deputy Commissioner P. Sunil Kumar to take immediate action, and the circular was withdrawn.