India: Election body defers release of PM Modi's biopic

CHANDIGARH, India

India's top election authority has banned the screening of a biopic on Prime Minister Narendra Modi until nationwide polls are over.

“Any biopic material in the nature of biography/hagiography.........which has the potential to disturb the level playing field during the elections, should not be displayed in electronic media,” said the Indian Election Commission in a statement on Wednesday.

The order comes a day before the biopic was set to be released. Its trailer shows Modi's journey from being a tea-seller to becoming prime minister of the world's largest democracy, trumpeting his humble origins which has been a core of his election campaign.

Critics have said the biopic shows Modi as a savior of the nation, blatantly ignoring the rise in violence against the Muslim minority in India during his term.

General elections in India will be held in seven stages starting Thursday.