‘The Kerala Story’ contains hate speech, manipulated facts: WB tells SC
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New Delhi: The West Bengal government on Tuesday told the Supreme Court that film "The Kerala Story" is based on ‘manipulated facts’ and contains ‘hate speech’ in multiple scenes, which may hurt communal sentiments and cause disharmony between the communities leading to law and order problems in the state, while defending its decision to ban the movie.
The state government, in a counter affidavit, said if the movie is allowed to be exhibited, it will cause breach of peace which will not be in the interest of justice and added that the decision was taken after receiving intelligence inputs to this effect following the release of the movie at 90 theatres in the state on May 5.
“The said movie is based on manipulated facts and contains hate speech in multiple scenes that may hurt communal sentiments and cause disharmony between the communities which will eventually lead to a law and order situation, as has been gauged from various Intelligence inputs", the Mamata government said while filing its affidavit before the top court, in response to the petitioners.
The state government also said that the petitioners should have approached the Calcutta high court which is already hearing four cases connected to the ban.
The state government said that the order was issued under Section 6 of the West Bengal Cinemas (Regulation) Act which empowers the state government and district administration to intervene on the ground that the exhibition of the movie could result in violence and a breach of peace.
The makers of ‘The Kerala Story’ , M/s Sunshine Pictures Private Limited and Vipul Amrutlal Shah had filed a petition challenging the ban. The petitioners also asked the court to order Tamil Nadu to provide security after theatre owners decided to stop screening the film.
The movie was released in the entire state on May 5, along with the rest of India and was playing in over 90 theatres.
"However, on the very first day after the initial shows, the Intelligence Branch of the government of West Bengal sent a communication to all the police departments alerting them that as per the intelligence report, the release of the movie is likely to cause a violent clash between the extremist groups," said the affidavit.
"During surveillance, it has been observed that the audience makes very objectionable comments whenever they see a particular scene where Hindu or Christian girls are seen tortured," it said, adding that it has also been observed that while coming out of movie halls people discuss among themselves to limit their interaction with Muslims, or that these Muslims ought to be taught a lesson.
On social media videos, photos and comments are being circulated against a particular community, which is further spewing hatred, it said.
The state government stressed that in the present case, considering the demography of the state of West Bengal and considering the hate speech used in the movie, further corroborated by the intelligence report, will said to be a reasonable restriction on the right of the petitioners.
It clarified that it is not reversing the certification given by the CBFC but instead passed such an order to protect safety and security of the state and its residents.
On May 12, the Supreme Court posed a series of queries to the West Bengal government in connection with the ban on the film, saying that it is being exhibited in the rest of the country and there is no reason why it should be banned in West Bengal.
A bench, headed by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud and comprising Justice P.S. Narasimha told senior advocate A.M. Singhvi, representing the West Bengal government said: "The film has been released in the rest of the country, West Bengal is no different from any other part of the country."
Senior advocate Harish Salve, representing the filmmakers, said the film ran in theatres for three days.
The Chief Justice said: "If the film can run in peace in other parts of the country, why should the state of West Bengal ban the film?....if the public does not find it worth seeing, they will not see the film."
"It is running in different parts of the country, which has a similar democratic profile as the state of West Bengal. Why should you not allow a film to run?"
The apex court issued notice to the West Bengal government on a plea by filmmakers challenging the state government's ban on the movie.
The filmmakers submitted that the state government has no power to ban a movie which has been certified for public viewing by the Central Board of Film Certification.
They claimed the state government cannot cite law and order issues to stop the screening of the movie. They argued that it will result in the violation of the fundamental rights guaranteed to them.
Meanwhile, in its affidavit on Monday, the Tamil Nadu government rejected the claim that theatre and multiplex owners decided against screening the film due to fear of violence, saying the decision was purely taken by the theatre owners who were guided by the film’s poor response among public.
“It appears that the theatre and multiplex owners took the decision to stop the screening of the film from May 7 in view of criticism received, lack of well-known actors, poor audience response. This decision was made by theatre owners on their own and state had no role to play over the same,” the Tamil Nadu government’s affidavit filed by advocate Amit Anand Tiwari said.
