“There’s The Right To Expression. There’s Also The Right To Administration,” Shatrughan Sinha Finally Breaks His Silence On The Kerala Story

Shatrughan Sinha has been travelling nonstop. When  one finally corners the affable forthright actor-politician for his comments on  the controversial film The Kerala Story about the alleged Islamic conversion  of Hindu women in Kerala.

Never known  to mince words Shatruji says, “Firstly, let me  make it very clear that I haven’t seen The Kerala Story.I’ve been so busy travelling that I have not yet seen my own daughter(Sonakshi)’s series Dahaad. Having said this, I would  also like to say that I’ve always stood up for  the freedom of expression. I firmly believe that  every individual  has  the right to say what she wants to…But not at the  cost of a  state’s law and  order. If a  film poses a  threat to the peace of the  State then there  should be  a curb   on that freedom.”

Is Shatrughan Sinha  speaking about his party leader Mamata Banerjee’s ban on  the film?

“Yes,Ms Mamata Banerjee is a very far-minded  leader. If she  feels this film(Kerala Story) can  create  a law and order  situation then she must have reason for it. She  too has always  stood up for the freedom  of expression. If she feels  the film is dangerous  to a certain section of people, she has every right  to  do what she  thinks right. As  for me, I’ve always  stood up for the right to freedom. Long before Vivek Agnihotri’s The  Kashmir Files, I spoke about the plight  of Kashmiri  Pandits . The  Government then paid no attention. If Vivek’s film has opened up  a debate  on Kashmiri Pundits then I  am  happy. Film on sensitive issues must be made. But they  should be  made sensitively.Why this film about  religious conversion  during election time? The timing seems a little suspicious.”