The Kerala Story' to be declared tax-free in UP, CM Yogi plans to watch film with his ministers
'The Kerala Story' will be declared tax-free in Uttar Pradesh, said chief minister Yogi Adityanath. The movie, which has been surrounded by controversy ever since its trailer was released, is facing stiff protests in many states.
(News Agency)-'Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday announced that his government will declare the movie 'The Kerala Story' tax-free in the state.
"'The Kerala Story' will be made tax-free in Uttar Pradesh," the chief minister said in a tweet in Hindi.
Yogi Adityanath and his entire cabinet are expected to see a special screening of the movie.
On May 6, Madhya Pradesh became the first state to declare the controversial film tax-free.
UTTARAKHAND LIKELY TO FOLLOW SUIT
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Uttarakhand is likely to declare the Adah Sharma-starrer film tax-free in the state.
According to sources, chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami is expected to make the announcement.
The chief minister is likely to watch the movie at a PVR hall in Dehradun at around 5 pm on Tuesday. He will be accompanied with cabinet minister Ganesh Joshi.
ROW OVER THE KERALA STORY
A massive controversy erupted after the trailer of The Kerala Story was out. The film focuses on religious indoctrination in Kerala and how Hindu and Christian women were allegedly being targeted by radical Islamic clerics. The movie claims that these women were converted to Islam and later sent to countries like Afghanistan, Yemen and Syria "to fight for the cause of Islam".
The Kerala high court had refused to stay the release of the movie and said the trailer does not contain anything offensive to any particular community as a whole. Various youth outfits in the state staged demonstrations against the screening of the film.
On Monday, the West Bengal government announced its decision to ban The Kerala Story in the state, with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee saying it was done to "maintain peace" and avoid violence.
Multiplex theatres in Tamil Nadu have halted the screenings of The Kerala Story from May 7, citing the law and order situation in the state.