After lots of debate and controversy, finally, the Election Commission of India has stopped Prime Minister Modi’s biopic titled PM Narendra Modi from releasing a day before its scheduled release date. The release date of the movie raised lots of questions, as it was releasing in the midst of 2019 Lok Sabha Elections scheduled from April 11 to May 19 this year. Now, the movie can be released only after the results of the elections are declared on May 23.
Stopping the film from releasing, the Election Commission said, “Any such films which has the potential to disturb the level playing field or promoting the purpose of any political party or individual entity during the elections should not be displayed in electronic media, as it can go against the Model Code of Conduct.”
The model code of Conduct came into effect from March 10, 2019, onwards.
A Congress activist had filed a petition in the Supreme Court to stop the movie from releasing, which was rejected by the court stating “too much of courts time is wasted on these non-issues” and added that the Election Commission is an ideal place for such appeals.
The Election Commission of India has issued a notice to the Information and Broadcasting Ministry, the CBFC and the Chief Electoral Officers of all states and Union Territories to not display any posters or publicity material related to any such certified content in electronic media or print media.
“Any biopic or material in the nature of biography/hagiography sub-serving the purposes of any political entity or any individual entity connected to it which is intended to, or has the potential to disturb the level-playing field during the elections should not be displayed in electronic media including cinematograph during the operation of the MCC [Model Code of Conduct]”
Now, the movie based on the life of Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be released only after the 2019 Lok Sabha Election.
