Has Mamata Banerjee’s Politics of Appeasement Reached Absurdity?
Click to start listening
Synopsis
The ongoing censorship of films in West Bengal, particularly under Mamata Banerjee's administration, has drawn sharp criticism from the BJP. Amit Malviya highlights recent incidents, raising concerns over freedom of expression and the absurdity of political appeasement. As controversies surrounding The Bengal Files escalate, the question remains: how far will this censorship go?
Key Takeaways
- The Bengal Files faces censorship in West Bengal due to its sensitive content.
- Multiple FIRs were filed, but the High Court intervened.
- Political pressures have led to repeated bans on films.
- The BJP has called out the government's approach to free speech.
- Censorship raises concerns about artistic freedom and expression.
Kolkata, Sep 4 (NationPress) The BJP has recently condemned the Mamata Banerjee administration for its decision to ban films, asserting that this has become a common occurrence when the themes and narratives of a movie do not align with the ruling party's ideology in the state.
Amit Malviya, who leads the BJP’s Information Technology Cell and serves as the party’s central observer for West Bengal, shared this statement on his X account, along with a letter from The Bengal Files producer, Pallavi Joshi.
In her open letter to President Droupadi Murmu, Joshi is urging the President to intervene and facilitate the release of the aforementioned movie in West Bengal.
Malviya noted that after director Vivek Agnihotri's public appeal to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee regarding the release of The Bengal Files in the state, Joshi's letter to the President has arisen.
Malviya emphasized that this is not an isolated incident of blatant censorship in West Bengal.
“The Kerala Story faced a similar fate, being denied theatrical release despite a court ruling, all due to threats of violence from the Mamata Banerjee regime. Recently, an event featuring Javed Akhtar was also cancelled following demands from radical Islamist groups to halt it,” Malviya further commented.
He also pointed out the absence of self-proclaimed advocates for free speech, who have seemingly chosen to ignore this situation.
“Mamata Banerjee’s politics of appeasement has escalated to ludicrous levels. It’s akin to riding a tiger — she is neither able to dismount nor control it without risking being consumed by it,” Malviya remarked.
The movie The Bengal Files has been mired in controversy since its inception, with multiple FIRs filed against it at various police stations in the state. On August 4, a single-judge bench of Justice Jay Sengupta at the Calcutta High Court granted an interim stay on the FIRs against the film.
The Bengal Files is regarded as the third installment of the Files trilogy, following The Tashkent Files in 2019 and The Kashmir Files in 2022.
Previously, the Mamata Banerjee-led government has faced allegations of imposing gag orders on films for allegedly “trivial” reasons.
Point of View
It's crucial to observe that while the freedom of expression is a fundamental right, the ongoing censorship of films in West Bengal raises significant concerns. The political climate under Mamata Banerjee's administration appears to suppress dissenting narratives, warranting a closer examination of the implications for regional governance and artistic expression.
NationPress
04/09/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has the Mamata Banerjee government banned films?
The government has been accused of banning films whose subjects or plots do not align with the ruling party's ideologies.
What is The Bengal Files about?
The Bengal Files is the third installment in a trilogy addressing sensitive historical and political topics in India.
What actions have been taken against The Bengal Files?
Multiple FIRs have been filed against the film, but a Calcutta High Court ruling has provided an interim stay on these actions.
Who is Pallavi Joshi?
Pallavi Joshi is the producer of The Bengal Files and has publicly sought intervention from the President of India for the film's release.
What has the BJP said about this censorship?
The BJP has criticized the censorship as an absurd level of political appeasement and pointed out the lack of response from free speech advocates.
