MALAPPURAM: District collector Amit Meena on Thursday issued an order asking director Kamal to refrain from inaugurating IFFK Film Festival in Nilambur.
The decision came after a complaint was lodged by the Muslim League district committee which stated that since Kamal was the Kerala Film Academy chairman, he should not open the event.
It further stated that since the film festival is being organised by the government and Kamal was a representative of the government, he should not inaugurate it. It argued he should not engage in anything that creates law and order issues, especially in the light of the upcoming poll which is slated for April 12.
It is learnt the filmmaker is being considered as the CPM candidate for the Lok Sabha bypoll necessitated by the passing away of E Ahamed. Kamal was recently caught in controversy when he was accused of disrespecting the national anthem during the International Film Festival of Kerala. Hindu right-wing groups had targeted him by calling him by his real name Kamaluddeen, which shows his Muslim identity. BJP state general secretary AN Radhakrishnan had commented that Kamal should leave the country if he could not accept the nation’s rules.