Kerala Chief Minister
Pinarayi Vijayan has extended his support to artists who boycotted the National Film Awards ceremony last week. Pinarayi stated that the difficulties and issues at this year's distribution ceremony were a by-product of the Centre's intolerance. The CM took to his official Facebook page to criticise
Smriti Irani's decision to present the awards instead of the President.
Full post of CM Pinarayi Vijayan (Translated from
Malayalam
) reads: "The confusion and difficulties caused during the National Film Awards ceremony is aproduct of the Central government's intolerance. The forceful decision to persist with Minister Smriti Irani for the award function actually insulted the President. The central government authorities have not given any explanation for changing the protocol and creating a confusion. The government has dragged the President's office into controversy for Smriti Irani."
"The protest by the award winners is justifiable. Those who protested by boycotting the ceremony haven't rejected the awards. They raised the need to be presented the awards from deserving hands. By rightly staging a protest against injustice at an occasion where they should have been receiving the highest honour, these artists have done a social responsibility."
"Such incidents happen while on a blind run towards dictatorship that annihilates varied sounds and opinions. This should be seen as a pre-planned agenda. In that way, the protest shown by artists holds great importance. The rising indignation that is gaining strength all over the country against intolerance and hate, is reflecting in cinema also."