Tushar Gandhi ‘disappointed’ with Keralam government over IDSFFK row

Tushar Gandhi, the great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, has expressed his “disappointment” with the Congress-led United Democratic Front government in Keralam over its reluctance to fight the “dictatorial decision” of the Union government to deny permission to 31 films selected for the 18th International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Keralam (IDSFFK). The festival got underway in the State capital on Saturday (September 26, 2026).

Mr. Gandhi, who was in Kozhikode on Saturday (September 26, 2026) to give away an award instituted by the District Congress Committee in memory of Congress stalwart C.K. Govindan Nair to All-India Congress Committee general secretary (organisation) K.C. Venugopal, pointed out that the State government had “weakened its freedom” by this action.

“It is not [happening for] the first time. The [Union] government [had] tried it before, and at that time, the then Government of Keralam stood up to them and showed the films. I am disappointed that this government has not shown the same courage,” he said. Mr. Gandhi urged Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan and Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala “to show courage to show those 31 films the Central government has stopped from being screened”. He also appealed to the Congress party in the State to hold screenings of those films all over Keralam. “Because Keralam has always fought against dictatorship, and it should continue to fight against dictatorship,” Mr Gandhi said.

Replying to this, Mr. Venugopal said that legal action had been initiated by the government in this regard. According to sources, the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has granted permission for the screening of 23 of those films. This follows a notice issued to it by the Kerala High Court based on a petition filed by the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy seeking screening permission for all the 31 films.

Mr. Gandhi later said that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) would have to be “destroyed” to save this country. “And it is not going to be destroyed by just merely cutting off one head; it will have to be destroyed by destroying the ideology of hate, the ideology of separation, and the ideology of fascism,” he said.

“It is not about removing the [Chief] Election Commissioner. We cannot be victorious by merely getting Gyanesh Kumar out of office. It is not about bringing about reforms in the election. It is about fighting the evil that is growing in our country, and that evil is the RSS,” Mr. Gandhi said.

Terming the RSS a “hydra-headed monster”, he said that every time one head of that monster was defeated, a new head would emerge to carry on the same work again.

Mr. Venugopal, meanwhile, said that the Congress would accept the suggestions from people like Mr. Gandhi. “If we have made any mistakes, they will be corrected,” he said. Mr. Venugopal also came down on the judiciary. Citing reports, he said it was shocking to know that the son of a Supreme Court judge, who favoured referring the 2023 CEC/EC law to a Constitution Bench, had been empanelled as a standing counsel for the Election Commission of India in the High Court of Madhya Pradesh. The Congress leader said it was unfortunate that such unheard-of episodes were being reported from the higher judiciary, often referred to as the last hope of the people.

Industries Minister P.K. Kunhalikutty, Minister for Labour Bindhu Krishna, Shafi Parambil, MP, Congress MLAs from Kozhikode district, and senior Congress leader M.M. Hassan were present.