Kerala Congress Chief Minister VD Satheesan has accused vlogger Amrit Singh Darren of attempting to spread communal hatred after the latter posted a video showing portraits of Pakistan’s founder Mohammad Ali Jinnah inside Kashi Art Café in Fort Kochi, along with beef dishes listed on its menu. Satheesan announced that legal action had been initiated against the vlogger, as reported in OpIndia.
In a post on X on Saturday, 25 October 2026, Satheesan described the video as an attempt to spread misinformation about Fort Kochi and damage Kerala’s image. He wrote, “Keralam stands united. Communal hatred has no place here. The recent Instagram video by a vlogger from outside the state, attempting to spread misinformation about Fort Kochi, portray our state in a negative light, and divide communities, is unacceptable,”
The Chief Minister also confirmed that a case had been registered against Darren, framing the video as an attempt to disrupt communal harmony in the state.
“A case has been registered, and the law will take its course. The UDF government remains committed to communal harmony and justice without fear or favour. A New Era for God’s Own Country. No room for hate. We will not allow anyone to even lay a finger on our communal harmony,” Satheesan said.
Keralam stands united. Communal hatred has no place here.
The recent Instagram video by a vlogger from outside the state, attempting to spread misinformation about Fort Kochi, portray our state in a negative light, and divide communities, is unacceptable.
A case has been registered, and the law will take its course. The UDF government remains committed to communal harmony and justice without fear or favour.
A New Era for God’s Own Country. No room for hate. We will not allow anyone to even lay a finger on our communal harmony.
— V D Satheesan (@vdsatheesan) October 24, 2026
What Did the Vlogger Show in His Video?
Darren recently uploaded an Instagram video documenting his visit to Kashi Art Café in Fort Kochi. At the beginning of the video, he expressed apprehension about possible repercussions following its publication and said the Kerala government would be responsible if anything untoward happened to him.
The video featured images of the café’s interiors, including portraits of Mohammad Ali Jinnah displayed on a wall. Darren also showed items listed on the café’s menu, including “Beef Steak”, “Minced Beef Omelette” and “Asian Fried Beef Bowl”.
Expressing surprise at the display of Jinnah’s portraits, Darren said, “When I entered the cafe, I was shocked to the core. This was the first time I saw Jinnah’s picture openly being displayed in India,”
He questioned the display of the portraits, citing Jinnah’s role in the Partition of India and the creation of Pakistan. “He (Jinnah) was responsible for thousands of Hindus and Sikhs being slaughtered and women being raped during the partition,” the vlogger said.
View this post on Instagram
The café’s own Instagram page contains posts showing its interiors, including Jinnah’s portraits, as well as menu items featuring beef.
Satheesan’s Defence of the UDF’s Alliance With IUML
The controversy has also drawn attention to the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) government’s political alliance with the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), one of its key coalition partners.
The IUML traces its political lineage to the Muslim League associated with Jinnah, which played a prominent role in the demand for Pakistan before Partition. The party has also faced political criticism over its alleged links with Islamist organisations, including Jamaat-e-Islami and the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI). The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has investigated radicalisation-related activities in Kerala.
Satheesan has previously defended the Congress-led alliance with the IUML, arguing that the party plays a role in keeping more radical political forces at bay. He has also rejected suggestions that his government operates under pressure from the IUML, describing the alliance partner as secular.
“This is not the 1940s’ Muslim League. The Indian Union Muslim League is a different party. They are having a secular approach. They have been with us for the last four or five decades,” CM Satheesan said.
#ExpressAdda | “In Kerala, (if) the Indian Union Muslim League is weakened, who will take their space? Extreme outfits…,” says Keralam CM V.D. Satheesan (@vdsatheesan).
When asked if the UDF govt was coming under pressure from the IUML, listen in to what he had to say.
Watch the full conversation on YouTube: https://t.co/oWTvPXcChY
— The Indian Express (@IndianExpress) October 24, 2026
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