"Extremely malicious": Congress leader VD Satheesan writes to poll panel to direct Doordarshan to withdraw screening of "The Kerala Story"

In a letter written to the Chief Election Commissioner, Rajiv Kumar, Satheesan alleged that the decision by the Central government is a tacit effort to divide society on religious grounds to further the electoral prospects of the ruling BJP.

"It has been learned that Doordarshan has decided to telecast the film "Kerala Story" on April 5, 2024. As you are aware, Kerala Story is a propaganda film based on extremely false premises and attempts to paint a bleak picture of the people of the state. I believe this is part of Sangh Parivaar's poisonous agenda to divide the country along communal lines," he said in his letter.

"The decision by the Central Government to telecast the movie via Doordarshan before the Loksabha election is a tacit effort to divide society on religious grounds to further the electoral prospects of the ruling BJP. The decision of Doordarshan is a direct insult to the people of Kerala. It is also in violation of model poll conduct which forbids any effort to divide society on religious lines," Satheesan said.

"In light of these contentions, I request your good self to direct Doordarshan to withdraw from its decision to telecast the extremely malicious "Kerala Story" movie," he said.

Earlier, he slammed the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Centre over the move, saying, "The screening of 'The Kerala Story' on Doordarshan aims at divisiveness."

"The strategy of the Sangh Parivar administration led by Modi is to create division within secular society by screening the film 'The Kerala Story', which is a collection of untruth. Understanding that the politics of division cannot be used in Kerala, Sangh Pariwar using Doordarshan, a central government institution, for political gain cannot be accepted," he lashed out at the Centre.

The election for 543 Lok Sabha seats in the country will be held in seven phases, starting on April 19 and ending on June 1. The results will be declared on June 4.

Nearly 97 crore voters are eligible to cast a vote in the general election.

Voting in the southern state of Kerala is scheduled to be held in a single phase on April 26. (ANI)