BBC's documentary screened across Kerala; AK Antony's son voices displeasure

The controversial BBC documentary on 2002 Gujarat riots when Prime Minister Narendra Modi helmed the western state was screened across Kerala on Tuesday by various political organisations including the pro-left Students Federation of India (SFI), as the BJP youth wing went up in arms protesting against the screening.

BBC's "India: The Modi Question" was screened in several parts of the state on Tuesday, prompting protest marches by the BJP's Yuva Morcha against the same.

However, support came in for the BJP from unexpected quarters as senior Congress leader and former Kerala CM AK Antony's son, Anil, voiced displeasure against the documentary.

Protest marches were taken out by Yuva Morcha to the Victoria College in Palakkad and Government Law College in Ernakulam where SFI followed through with its announcement to screen the documentary.

In both places, police intervened to remove the protestors and prevent any conflict.

More screenings are expected to take place in some colleges in Ernakulam and Thiruvananthapuram later Tuesday, a senior police officer said.

DYFI, the youth wing of the ruling CPI(M) in Kerala, said it will screen the documentary not just in the southern state, but across India.

It has to be shown to the public irrespective of the attempts by the Union government to hide it, V K Sanoj, state secretary of the DYFI told reporters.

He said there was nothing "anti-national" about screening the documentary as it has not been banned.

DYFI has no interest in creating any atmosphere of conflict in the state or the country, Sanoj added.

Meanwhile, former chief minister Antony's son Anil, in apparent support to BJP in the ongoing political storm in the state, said placing the views of the British broadcaster over Indian institutions would "undermine" the country's sovereignty.