Gujarat tea-seller offers free beverage to those who watch controversial 'The Kerala Story'

Amid controversy over 'The Kerala Story' film, a tea-seller in Surat in the western Indian state of Gujarat has offered free tea and coffee to those who produce tickets of the film.

The tea-seller has put up a poster of 'The Kerala Story' stating that those who show tickets of the controversial film will get tea and coffee for free. The offer is valid until May 15.

The tea shop called 'Kesariya (saffron) Tea Shop' is located in Vesu area of Surat.

It may be recalled here that a village sarpanch (head) in north Gujarat had offered to give people in his area exemption from local taxes if they came with the tickets of the film 'The Kashmir Files' last year.

Like "The Kashmir Files", "The Kerala Story" has also courted a huge controversy even as several petitions seeking a ban on it were turned down by courts, including the country's apex court. According to the petitioners, the film was misleading against the minority Muslim community and would create communal tensions.

A number of states ruled by India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party such as Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh have waived taxes on the film while some such as West Bengal and Tamil Nadu have banned the film.