- Wednesday, February 12, 2025
In a tweet carrying the advertisement released in major national dailies, state chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said by embracing social justice, his government drives inclusive development that empowers all.
By: Shubham Ghosh
At a time when the film ‘The Kerala Story’ has triggered a controversy in India with different states having contradictory takes over it, the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government of the southern state of Kerala on Saturday (20) came out with an advertisement picking on the controversial film which has been released earlier this month, claiming the state was celebrating “The Real Kerala Story” of social harmony and progressive values under its rule.
The government was celebrating the “Real Kerala Story” on the occasion of its second anniversary.
In a tweet carrying the advertisement released in major national dailies, state chief minister and LDF leader Pinarayi Vijayan said by embracing social justice, his government drives inclusive development that empowers all.
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Kerala weaves a tale of social harmony and progressive values. Embracing social justice, we drive inclusive development that empowers all. On Kerala Government's second anniversary, we celebrate the #RealKeralaStory, where dreams flourish and humanity thrives.#KeralaStory pic.twitter.com/GOPqjiHTc8
— Pinarayi Vijayan (@pinarayivijayan) May 20, 2023
“On Kerala Government’s second anniversary, we celebrate the #RealKeralaStory, where dreams flourish and humanity thrives,” the CM tweeted.
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The Hindi film, released across the country recently, had faced charges of depicting Kerala in poor light.
The film is about a group of women from the southern Indian state who are forced into converting to Islam, and go on to join the Islamic State extremist outfit.
In the “Real Kerala Story” advertisement, the government describes Kerala, the only Left-ruled state in India, as a “jewel in India’s crown” and a “beacon of progressive ideals.”
The advertisement features a picture of Vijayan. Along with that of people representing various sections of society including farmers, healthcare workers, transgenders and so on.
In an apparent way of rejecting the allegations raised by its critics, the government, in the advertisement, also claimed that compassion and social justice drive policies of the Left government that empower marginalised communities and foster equal opportunities for all.
The colourful full-page advertisement listed out the various achievements of the Kerala government in the last two years. It also claimed that the southern state has emerged as an exemplar of “people-centric progress” and a “unique model of inclusive development.”
It says that Kerala has made remarkable achievements under the Left regime in the areas of sustainable development, innovations, healthcare, tourism and so on. He said so pointing out various national indexes in this regard and recognitions.
“Kerala shines as a beacon of progressive ideals, where every voice matters and the spirit of unity paves the way for a brighter future,” it said.
Meanwhile, to mark the second anniversary of the Vijayan government, various programmes are being organised across the state.
However, the opposition launched intense protests against the alleged misrule and corruption under the Left government.
Hundreds of party workers of the opposition Congress-led UDF laid siege to the state Secretariat here on the anniversary day.
The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party also organised various protest programmes against the Marxist party regime on its second anniversary day.
(With PTI inputs)
