The Madhya Pradesh government on Wednesday withdrew its decision to give tax-free status to Bollywood film The Kerala Story in the state. Though no official reason has been given for its fresh move, sources said 'A' certificate movies cannot be given tax exemption.
The Shivraj Singh Chouhan government had on Saturday given tax-free status to the controversial movie which narrates the ordeal of three women who are trafficked to the IS terror camp after being converted to Islam.
“We have already made a law against religious conversion in Madhya Pradesh. Since this film creates awareness, everyone should watch this film. Parents, children and daughters should watch it. That's why the Madhya Pradesh government is giving tax-free status to the movie The Kerala Story,” Chouhan had said.
The chief minister had said the film exposes the conspiracies of ‘love jihad’, religious conversion and terrorism and its “hideous” face.
With the Bharatiya Janata Party throwing its weight behind the film, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday said the film would be made tax-free in the state.
Meanwhile, the West Bengal government on Monday decided to ban the screening of the movie to “maintain peace” and to avoid incidents of “hatred and violence” in the state. Vipul Amrutlal Shah, the producer of the film, said they will pursue legal options against the Mamata Banerjee government's decision.
The Kerala Story, directed by Sudipto Sen, has sparked off a political outrage with the opposition parties, including the Congress and the ruling CPI(M) in Kerala, terming it an 'RSS propaganda' to defame a particular community.