West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee dubbed The Kerala Story as a “distorted story” and accused the BJP of “defaming the people of Kerala with their narrative”. She said, she had banned the film on May 8 as a “precautionary measure” in a bid to maintain “peace and harmony”. Exhibitors of the state Sid that there had been no trouble in the film’s screening before the ban was imposed. A Bengal government press release said, “The scenes depicted in this movie can be dangerous to the law and order and apprehending this, screening of this movie is banned in Calcutta and all districts. The state took this decision to maintain law and order.”
Union I & B minister Anurag Thakur said, Mamata was doing “injustice to the sisters and daughters of Bengal by banning the film”. He added, “She (Mamata) should clarify whether she stands with those who promote terrorist ideologies or is against it.”