Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday invoked The Kerala Story controversy while addressing a rally in the poll-bound state of Karnataka. While addressing a rally in Karnataka’s Bellary, PM Modi mentioned that the movie The Kerala Story shows the ugly truth of terrorism and exposes the plans of terrorists. Prime Minister Modi was slamming the Congress National Party as many of its leaders had opposed the release of the movie calling it propaganda rather than based on true story. For the unversed, The Kerala Story was released in theaters on May 5, 2023, amid massive uproar, debate, and censors. While at first, The Kerala Story advertised itself as a true story based on the mysterious disappearance of 32000 women in Kerala and the forced conversion of women from different communities into Islam and later recruiting them into ISIS. However, after a massive uproar, the makers retracted the number of 32,000 and stated that the movie is based on 3 Indian women who are currently lodged in Afghanistan jail.
PM Modi on The Kerala Story said, " ‘The Kerala Story’ in his speech and alleged that Congress is trying to oppose the film. Slamming Congress for opposing the movie, PM Modi said, "The Kerala Story film is based on a terror conspiracy. It shows the ugly truth of terrorism and exposes terrorists' design.." adding "Congress is opposing the film made on terrorism and standing with terror tendencies. Congress has shielded terrorism for the vote bank."
PM Modi applauded 'The Kerala Story' Movie and called 'LJ' type of Terrorism
— THE INTREPID 🇮🇳 (@Theintrepid_) May 5, 2023
Brilliant !!
Congratulations to makers 🙏🙏 pic.twitter.com/e7DfdTddnF
Now, the question arises why Prime Minister Modi invoked The Kerala Story in the poll-bound state of Karnataka. To understand this, continue reading-
BJP banking big on Hindu Votes while Congress wooing Muslim vote bank
Before getting deep into the analysis of the vote banks, a major debate erupted after the Congress in its manifesto announced that it will ban Bajrang Dal in the state if it comes to power. The Bajrang Dal is a Hindu nationalist organization that forms the youth wing of the Vishva Hindu Parishad. The poll promise sparked controversy with Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal activists staging protests in several parts of the state. Thereafter, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a scathing attack on Congress and said, "The Congress in its manifesto has decided to lock up Lord Hanuman. Initially, they locked up Prabhu Shri Ram (Lord Ram). And now they want to lock up people who say Jai Bajrang Bali." Seeing, a massive uproar against the Congress in the Hindu Community, Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar promised new Hanuman temples in the state if Congress is voted to power
Vote Bank in Karnataka
Lingayats key to Karnataka Elections 2023- Notably, Vokkaligas and Lingayats are the two dominant communities in Karnataka. In order to woo their votes, the BJP last month scrapped four percent quota for minorities (Muslims) and add it to the existing quota of Vokkaligas and Lingayats. As per a report, Lingayats are said to constitute about 17 percent of Karnataka's population, and the community has dominance in as many as 100 out of total of 224 constituencies, the majority of these seats being in the north Karnataka region. Therefore, by announcing a 4 percent reservation and scrapping it from Muslims, the Saffron party has made its intentions very clear. Furthermore, the report also suggested that out of the 23 Chief Ministers that Karnataka has had since 1952, as many as 10 have been Lingayats, followed by six Vokkaligas, five from Backward Classes, and two Brahmins. However, another report suggested that despite of the additional reservations, Lingyats communities are not happy with Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai.
A news portal quoted seer Dingaleshwara saying that Lingyats used to support the BJP because of former Chief Minister Yediyurappa. As per the Lingyat seer, under the Yediyurappa government, they were used to receive hundreds of crores of rupees to the mutts and its seers. The Lingayat mutts were the backbone of his political clout. It means the promise to implement the UCC in Karnataka can be said a final attempt to woo the Hindu voters as the majority of minorities are