Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced on Thursday that the Hindi film The Sabarmati Report, based on the 2002 Godhra incident in Gujarat, will be declared “tax-free” in the state. The CM made the announcement after attending a special screening of the film, alongside his cabinet colleagues and the film’s cast, including lead actor Vikrant Massey. Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak was also present at the event.
After watching the film, CM Yogi commended the filmmakers for their efforts in bringing out the true story of the Godhra incident. “This is a film every Indian must watch to understand the real facts behind the Godhra incident,” the Chief Minister said. He emphasized that the film exposes the acts that sought to sow discord in society and destabilize the country, specifically targeting the state government. “It is essential for people to be aware of those who conspired for political motives against the nation,” CM Yogi added.
The Chief Minister also highlighted the film’s connection to the Ayodhya issue and paid tribute to the Ram devotees who lost their lives in the incident. He encouraged the public to watch the movie and spread awareness of its important message.
In a further push to ensure that as many people as possible view the film, CM Yogi instructed district magistrates across Uttar Pradesh to organize screenings in their respective districts.
Vikrant Massey, the film’s lead actor, expressed his gratitude to CM Yogi for the state’s decision to make the film tax-free. The film also stars Rashi Khanna and Riddhi Dogra, with director Dheeraj Sarna helming the project. The film is produced by Shobha Kapoor, Ektaa R Kapoor, Amul V Mohan, and Anshul Mohan.
The Sabarmati Report depicts the tragic burning of the Sabarmati Express near Godhra station on February 27, 2002, where 59 Hindu devotees were killed, sparking violent communal riots across Gujarat.
Uttar Pradesh becomes the sixth BJP-ruled state to declare the film tax-free, following Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, and Gujarat. The film has also received praise from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who recently commended it for revealing the truth about the incident. “It is good that this truth is coming out, and that too in a way that common people can see. A fake narrative can persist only for a limited period of time. Eventually, the facts will always come out!” Modi wrote in a post on X.
This is not the first time that Prime Minister Modi has lauded a film. In 2022, he had praised The Kashmir Files and also mentioned The Kerala Story in his public comments.
