Bhatkal: Tanzeem calls for ban on ‘Udaipur Files’, says film spreads hate, misrepresents Islam
Bhatkal, July 10: The Majlis-e-Islah wa Tanzeem, a prominent socio-religious organisation based in Bhatkal, has opposed the release of the controversial film Udaipur Files, alleging that it spreads misinformation, promotes communal hatred, and targets the Muslim community in a biased manner. In a press statement issued on Thursday, the organisation demanded an immediate and permanent ban on the film, warning that its release would only deepen existing communal divisions in the country.
The Tanzeem stated that the movie, which claims to be based on real events, selectively portrays an entire community in a negative light under the pretext of truth-telling. “The film includes objectionable references to Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) and distorts Islamic teachings. Such content is not only offensive to Muslims but also poses a grave threat to the nation’s social harmony,” the statement said.
Drawing parallels to previously released films like The Kashmir Files and The Kerala Story, the Tanzeem alleged that Udaipur Files follows the same pattern of presenting one-sided narratives under the garb of cinema, with the intent to fuel hatred and mistrust. The organisation noted that such films had previously triggered a rise in communal tensions across the country and feared a similar fallout with the release of Udaipur Files.
“Let us be clear — films like these do not promote justice or dialogue. They manufacture fear and spread prejudice,” the statement noted, adding that the movie arrives at a time when communal harmony is fragile and the legal proceedings in the Udaipur incident are still underway. “To fictionalise and communalise an ongoing case through a cinematic portrayal is not only irresponsible but also dangerous,” the statement read.
The organisation urged the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) and the government to act responsibly and prevent the release of the film in any format — whether in theatres, television, or online platforms. According to the Tanzeem, permitting the film’s release would set a dangerous precedent and embolden more such productions that aim to vilify specific communities.
“In case the film is released despite these concerns, we call upon all peace-loving and secular-minded citizens of India to register their protest and oppose this growing trend of communal propaganda through cinema,” the Tanzeem said.
The statement further expressed alarm over the growing misuse of cinema to legitimise fringe ideologies and communal narratives, warning that such content does not remain limited to entertainment halls but seeps into classrooms, workplaces, homes, and public discourse — affecting society at large.
Majlis-e-Islah wa Tanzeem also urged political parties to take a clear and principled stand against the release of such films. “Those who claim to stand for secularism, democracy and justice must not remain silent in this hour. Silence will only embolden those who seek to divide the country,” it said.
Reiterating its long-standing commitment to communal harmony, peaceful coexistence, and the rule of law, the organisation stated that any criminal act — including the tragic Udaipur incident — must be dealt with strictly under the law and not through provocative and biased portrayals on the silver screen.
Calling for a broader public engagement on the matter, the Tanzeem appealed to civil society groups, student organisations, legal experts, journalists, and filmmakers to stand against content that distorts facts and undermines constitutional values. “India’s strength lies in its unity and diversity. We must not let films become weapons that poison minds and tear our society apart,” the organisation concluded.
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Delhi CM Rekha Gupta accuses Mamata Banerjee of stalling SIR; TMC hits back
Kolkata (PTI): Alleging that her West Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee had approached the Supreme Court to stall the SIR exercise to prevent the identification of infiltrators, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Sunday claimed that the people of the state have made up their minds to dislodge the Trinamool Congress from power.
The TMC countered strongly, urging Gupta to "look into her own backyard" and accused her of making absurd allegations against the TMC government without checking facts.
Addressing participants at the 'Nari Sankalp Yatra' organised by the BJP's women's wing at Science City auditorium here, Gupta alleged that the "hands-off" and appeasement policies of the TMC government had allowed thousands of infiltrators to enter the state in recent years.
She claimed that this had put a strain on basic rights such as access to water, electricity, ration, education, livelihood and the right to vote for genuine citizens.
"She wants to perpetuate this and hence is trying to stall the SIR exercise, which aims at identifying and deporting infiltrators. Imagine a chief minister going to the apex court to argue against an exercise meant to ensure free and fair polls," Gupta said.
The BJP leader alleged that appeasement politics had reached an "alarming level" under the TMC regime.
Raising concerns over women's safety, she claimed that women in the state were not secure despite having a woman chief minister.
Referring to the rape-murder of a woman doctor at RG Kar Hospital, Gupta alleged that the state government had failed to respond adequately to such crimes.
She also referred to the alleged rape of a woman medic in Durgapur and another law student on a Kolkata college campus, claiming that criminals had been emboldened to commit brutalities against women.
She alleged that in crimes against women, overall crime incidents and child marriages, West Bengal remained among the top -- "a slur on a state which once led intellectual and social movements and set examples for the rest of the country," she said.
Criticising the state government's welfare initiatives, she said schemes such as Kanyashree were built on "false claims" and asserted that women needed security rather than assurances.
Accusing the state government of blocking central schemes, Gupta alleged that funds worth "lakhs of crores of rupees" had not reached the poor due to non-implementation of programmes such as Ayushman Bharat, PM Awas Yojana and Jal Jeevan Mission by the state.
"You are only interested in renaming projects and taking credit," she said.
Gupta also alleged that the education sector in the state had been adversely affected, saying several state-run schools had closed due to a shortage of teachers and that the government was opposed to the National Education Policy.
Drawing a comparison with BJP-ruled Delhi, Gupta said, "People have already voted out 'Bhaia' (a reference to former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal). Now it is your turn to bid farewell to 'Didi'." Calling upon women to resist what she termed "strong-arm tactics", she urged them to assert their strength, invoking the imagery of Goddess Durga.
"Bengal has the right to live with dignity, and women have the right to live with dignity," she added.
Reacting to Gupta's allegations, West Bengal Women and Child Welfare minister Shashi Panja accused her of making "absurd allegations" against the Trinamool Congress government ahead of elections.
Panja alleged that during Gupta's tenure in Delhi, several incidents had raised serious concerns, including reports of missing young women and a blast near the Red Fort.
She also criticised the air pollution situation in the national capital, claiming that people were struggling to breathe.
The TMC leader said that despite being in power for a year, Gupta was making "tall claims" instead of addressing key issues in Delhi.
Panja further alleged that the Delhi CM visited West Bengal during elections to "peddle false allegations" against the state government.
Rebutting Gupta, the TMC said in a post on X said, "Madam why did you go off-script again? For your edification, here are the cold, hard facts: In total cases of crimes (IPC + SLL), Bengal ranks a respectable 15th, far safer than BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat, which languish near the bottom."
"In overall crime rate, Bengal sits comfortably at 28th. Who's second? Your own Delhi. Double Engine Gujarat and Haryana grab 4th and 5th as top-tier crime havens," the TMC said.
"In child marriage, Assam again takes the shameful pole position. And yet you dare lecture Bengal? Stop embarrassing yourself, stop the hypocrisy, and maybe fix the rotting mess in your own backyard before pointing fingers at a state that's outperforming your disasters on every key metric," the TMC countered.
