Anurag Thakur calls ‘The Kerala Story’ an ‘Eye Opener’, says it’s time to save Kerala

Mumbai (India), 6th May 2023: Anurag Thakur, Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, lambasted people criticising the film “The Kerala Story” on Friday, calling it “an eye-opener.” According to Thakur, “freedom of expression is very selective for such groups of selective outrage.”

However netizens and people from the opposition are criticising his statement as the government had very recently neglected the ‘freedom of expression’ when they banned a BBC documentary based on Narendra Modi.

Anurag Thakur had tweeted his views on the hindi film that released on May 5. He wrote in his tweet, “This ecosystem reacts in a typical pattern whenever any film/research work brings out some chilling and untold stories like #TheKeralaStory. This chaotic ecosystem, which is so angry and desperate, tried to create similar narratives against ‘The Kashmir Files’ to hush up the genocide of Hindus by Pakistan sponsored terrorists in J&K.”

The Union Minister further added, “Freedom of expression is very selective for such groups of selective outrage. ‘The Kerala Story’ is an eye-opener; it is time to save Kerala and our brothers and sisters from the monster of terrorism.”

The minister’s response came a day after Communist Party of India (CPI) Rajya Sabha MP Binoy Viswam wrote to him, stating that the film is based on “Islamophobic propaganda” and aims to tarnish Kerala’s image.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also mentioned the film while speaking at a rally in poll-bound Karnataka’s Ballari. He said, “‘The Kerala Story’ is based on a terror plot. It uncovers the terrorists’ design and exposes the awful realities of terrorism. Congress is blocking the film about terrorism and siding with terrorists. “Congress has shielded terrorism for the sake of the vote bank,”

At the same time the Kerala High Court, which is considering the petitions against the film, has declined to stop its distribution, stating that it is “inspired by true events.” “There is something known as free speech and expression. They have artistic freedom; we must balance that as well,” Justice Nagaresh was reported as saying by Live Law.