BJP promoting ‘The Kashmir Files’ for personal gains: Shiv Sena MP

‘The Kashmir Files’ attempted to suppress several harsh truths; not only Kashmiri Pandits but also others affected: Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut

Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Sunday accused the BJP of promoting ‘The Kashmir Files’ movie with an eye on the forthcoming Assembly polls in Gujarat and Rajasthan, and also alleged that an attempt has been made in the film to suppress several “harsh truths”.

In his weekly column ‘Rokhthok’ in Shiv Sena mouthpiece ‘Saamana’, Raut said it was the BJP’s promise to ensure the return of displaced Kashmiri Pandits to Kashmir, but the same has not happened despite the abrogation of Article 370, and sought to know whose failure it was.

Raut also labelled Prime Minister Narendra Modi of being the main promoter of the film.

Attacking the BJP further, the Rajya Sabha member asked the NDA constituent what happened to its promise of integrating Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) with India.

Written and directed by Vivek Agnihotri and produced by Zee Studios, the film ‘The Kashmir Files’ depicts the exodus of Kashmiri Hindus from Kashmir following systematic killings of people from the community by Pakistan-backed terrorists. Since its release on March 11, the film has sparked a debate among political parties. Several BJP-ruled states, including Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, have exempted the film from entertainment tax.

“The story based on the fleeing of Hindu Pandits in Kashmir, their killings, atrocities inflicted on them and their anger disturbs one’s mind. But what disturbs even more is (the attempt) to divide Hindu-Muslims out of it (the story) again and win the upcoming elections,” Raut said.

“The Kashmir file has been opened to win the (forthcoming) elections in states like Gujarat and Rajasthan,” he alleged.