'The Kerala Story' poster (Left) and LoP V D Satheesan (Right)
Vote Bank Politics of both ruling CPM-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) and Opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) was shocked by the Idukki Diocese of Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, on April 8, by screening the movie ‘Kerala Story’ for the catechism students in connection with its three-day vacation training class held at its churches from April 2. The movie highlights the menace of the controversial Love Jihad and taking the women to places like Syria and Afghanistan for drafting to IS.
Screening of the movie by the Diocese came close on the heels of telecasting the same by Doordarshan Malayalam channel on April 5, 2024.
Immediately after the news of the Diocese’s resolution to screen ‘Kerala Story’ spread, both LDF and UDF jumped down their throats. V D Satheesan, Congress leader and LoP in the Legislative assembly said that the movie has nothing to do with reality. Kerala does not have any such issues. The film is a deliberate attempt to denigrate Kerala.
CPM State Secretary M V Govindan took a diplomatic turn. He did not like to rub the Church up the wrong side, but he had to attack the movie lest Congress outsmart them. So, he criticised the Union Government for getting Doordarshan to telecast the movie prior to the elections.
However, Christian observers opine that the movie is realistic. They said V D Satheesan does not have any right to attack the Church for screening the movie. The Church belongs to Christians. One observer said that Christians and their priests know what to do on their premises. The Church does not belong to Satheesan’s parents.
Now, the worries of both LDF and UDF do not see leaps and bounds. If Christians highlight Love Jihad during the days of election hustings, it will give an advantage to the BJP.
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