Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut charge on sunday BJP of propaganda ‘The Kashmir Files’ movie Keeping an eye on the upcoming assembly elections in Gujarat and Rajasthan, and also alleged that the film attempted to suppress several “hard truths”.
In his weekly column ‘Rakhthok’ Shiv Sena In ‘Saamana’ mouthpiece, Raut said it was the BJP’s promise to ensure the return of displaced Kashmiri Pandits to Kashmir, but it has not happened despite the abrogation of Article 370, and sought to know whose failure it was. . ,
Raut also labeled Prime Minister Narendra Modi Being the main promoter of the film.
Further attacking the BJP, the Rajya Sabha member asked the NDA constituent what happened to its promise to integrate 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 after the systematic killings of community members by Pakistan-backed terrorists.
The film has sparked a debate among political parties ever since its release on March 11. There are many BJP ruled states including Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. The film is exempted from entertainment tax.
“The story based on the escape of Hindu Pandits in Kashmir, their killings, the atrocities inflicted on them and their anger is bound to break one’s mind. But what is even more disturbing is the attempt to re-divide this (story) between Hindus and Muslims and win the upcoming elections.
“The file of Kashmir has been opened to win (upcoming) elections in states like Gujarat and Rajasthan,” he alleged.
Raut said films like ‘The Kashmir Files’ should be made, but – he alleged – the agenda of such films is now to spread hatred and confusion about (political) opponents.
The Shiv Sena leader said that the makers of ‘The Kashmir Files’ had earlier produced ‘The Tashkent Files’, through which he alleged that it was implied that only the Gandhi family was responsible for the death of former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri. ,
While showing the true news in ‘The Kashmir Files’, an attempt has been made to suppress many more bitter truths. Thirty-two years ago, the atmosphere in Kashmir was bad not only for Kashmiri Pandits, but for everyone, and Kashmiri Pandits were the most affected,” Raut said.
The Rajya Sabha member said that apart from Kashmiri Pandits, Kashmiri Sikhs and Muslims were also among those killed in Kashmir at that time.
Raut said the first political murder in Kashmir was that of National Conference leader Mohammad Yousuf Halwai in August 1989. Earlier, the Inspector General of Police was attacked, in which the officer’s bodyguard was killed.
“Many such truths are hidden through ‘The Kashmir Files’,” he alleged.
Raut said that even after 43 years of independence, Kashmiri Pandits were not forced to flee from Kashmir.
He further said that there was a BJP-backed VP Singh government at the Center when Kashmiri Pandits and Sikhs had to leave Kashmir in 1990.
“BJP leader Jagmohan was the governor of Kashmir (then). The Kashmir file was in cold storage when Hindus were dying and fleeing in the Valley,” Raut said, adding that at that time only late Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray was raising his voice in support of Kashmiri Pandits.
Raut further asked the BJP how it formed the government with the PDP (in March 2015), which had “jointed hands with terrorists”.
“These people (BJP) did not even condemn the displacement and killings of Kashmiri Pandits at that time,” Raut said.
He asked why BJP ministers in that government were silent when the PDP had dubbed 2001 Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru a “freedom fighter” and questioned the killing of terrorist Burhan Wani by security personnel.
Raut also asked the BJP what happened to its announcement to merge PoK with India.
The Shiv Sena leader said Thackeray ensured five per cent reservation in medical and engineering education for the children of displaced Kashmiri Pandits in Maharashtra and asked why BJP-ruled states never took such a decision.
Referring to the death of 40 CRPF personnel in the 2019 Pulwama attack, Raut said the security personnel cannot be “pandits” and asked whose fault it was that they lost their lives in the incident.
Is the file of events in Kashmir from attacks like Uri, Pathankot to Pulwama not stained with our blood? He asked.