John Brittas, a Rajya Sabha member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), submitted a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah pleading with him to act quickly against the preview of a movie called “The Kerala Story” that is being extensively shared on social media. It is spreading blatantly incorrect material with the intention of defaming Kerala, which could disturb public peace and the secular fabric of the country.
In a letter to Union Home Minister, MP John Brittas said, “I am writing this letter to solicit your urgent attention to a grave issue that may topple down the public tranquillity and the secular fabric of the nation and is intended to defame Kerala.” “I have stumbled upon news reports regarding the viral circulation in social media of a movie teaser, viz., ‘The Kerala Story’ was produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah and directed by Sudipto Sen. It is learned that the teaser has been released on the YouTube page of Sunshine Pictures on November 3, 2012. The teaser claims to be depicting the story of 32,000 women from Kerala who were radicalised to join the ISIS terrorist group, which is absolutely rubbish and fallacious. Such dissemination of grossly false information may lead to inconceivable repercussions and unrest in the society and the same will amount to defaming the State as well,” Brittas said.
In a letter, the CPI(M) Upper House MP further claimed that this bogus story is being widely disseminated on social media. This rash teaser has sown the seeds of mistrust and agitation among numerous groups of people in the state and across the entire nation. While purporting to be a genuine account of the events, it makes an absurdly fantastical attempt at a tale. It is not just disparaging in nature; it also aims to create racial conflict and communal division between different religions, which carries heavy criminal penalties.
The Indian Penal Code, 1860, Sections 153A, 153B, 295A, and 505 are just a few of the criminal statutes that apply to such a purposeful and evil plot to incite religious sentiment, foster animosity between various groups on the basis of religion, disturb public peace, and be detrimental to national integration. Such plots are to be dealt with harshly and carry culpable responsibility.
It is pertinent to note that the appalling attempt to assert that 32,000 women had been converted to Islam and sent to Syria and Yemen, is not only highly deplorable but also devoid of any merit. Even the factual data shared by the authorities depicts a
“A different picture,” he added in the letter.
“The deliberate iniquitous attempt is further corroborated by the fact that the concoction has been managed to misquote two former Chief Ministers of Kerala. Their statements have been deliberately twisted and wrongly used to weave a nefarious thread for the purported movie,” Brittas added.
The leader of the CPI (M) acknowledged in the letter that he has consistently advocated vociferously for preserving the right to free speech. Nothing ought to be done to limit it. But such blatant abuse that causes chasms by inciting violence and spreading rumours is abhorrent and nasty. I implore the Ministry to act quickly in this regard under the current conditions and given the urgency. Your earliest response on this matter is urgently requested.
