Dilip Ghosh travels to Odisha with 55 supporters to watch Bengal Files

In a unique act of protest against what he calls the "autocratic attitude" of the West Bengal government, BJP leader Dilip Ghosh has traveled to the neighboring state of Odisha to watch the controversial film 'The Bengal Files'. Ghosh, accompanied by 55 party activists, took a train from Kharagpur to Balasore, a distance of 120 kilometers, specifically to view the movie. He alleged that the film has not been allowed a proper release in West Bengal, despite being shown in theaters across the rest of India.

Speaking from the train, Dilip Ghosh stated that the group's journey to Balasore was a direct protest against the state government's policy. "We are going to Balasore to protest the autocratic policy of the state government. To watch the movie 'Bengal Files'," he said. "It is being released all over India, but the West Bengal government did not allow it to be released here." The move is seen as a a highly visible way to draw attention to the controversy surrounding the film.

Ghosh further alleged that the state government is "afraid of the truth." He claimed that the film's content, which delves into historical events concerning Bengalis before and after independence, is a subject the government wants to keep hidden from the public. "What happened to Bengalis, before and after independence, is still going on, so that people do not know, that is why Bengal Files is not being allowed to be released," he said.

The film's director, Vivek Agnihotri, has also been vocal about the issue. He has publicly complained that the film is not getting a single theater in West Bengal due to what he terms as "political pressure." While there has been no official ban, theater owners and multiplexes have reportedly refused to screen the film, a situation Agnihotri and his supporters have called an "unofficial ban."

Adding to the controversy, 'The Bengal Files' did have a special screening in Kolkata on September 13, but it was at the National Library, and access was limited to a select audience, not the general public. The director himself was present at this screening. The film also faces several legal battles, with cases ongoing in the Calcutta High Court. One such case was filed by the grandson of Gopal Mukherjee, a historical figure depicted in the film. The petitioner has taken legal action against the makers, alleging misrepresentation.