A BJP leader in Uttar Pradesh has put up a banner near Lucknow University purporting to show that Opposition leaders were either banning or creating hurdles for the film The Kerala Story on the directions of terrorists.

The banner at Hanuman Setu put up by Abhijat Mishra, secretary in the state BJP, shows a man on top with his face covered, symbolising a terrorist. He says: “Shagirdon, inn kafiron ki film ko kisi bhi tarah ban karao (My disciples, ban this film of the infidels anyhow).”

There are pictures of Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav and AIMIM head Asaduddin Owaisi, with each of them shown as acting on the direction of the terrorist.

Mamata is shown as saying in Hindi over phone: “Aka, maine Bengal mein film ban kar di hai (My lord, I have banned the film in Bengal).”

Rahul is shown as saying in English: “Yes sir, I am trying my best.”

Akhilesh is depicted as saying: “Aka, virodh toh kar raha hun, lekin bulldozer se dar lag raha hai (My lord, I am opposing the film but I fear the bulldozer).”

Owaisi is shown as saying: “Huzur, na sarkar sun rahi hai na adalat sun rahi hai (Sir, neither the government nor the court is listening to us).”

Mishra told reporters in Lucknow that he had ordered that the banner be put up “to create awareness among the people”. He tweeted the poster on Wednesday.

The Congress said it was mulling legal action against the BJP leader. Dwijendra Tripathi, a Congress leader, said: “We are consulting lawyers and will lodge a complaint with the police against the BJP leader who is trying to push the country towards communal frenzy."