After strong endorsement of The Kashmir Files by BJP-ministers and administration, Maharashtra’s Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on March 20, 2022 condemned the same as an Assembly elections tactic.
According to The Tribune, Raut wrote for the party mouthpiece ‘Saamana’ on Sunday and alleged that the ruling regime promoted the movie to garner a better win for the Rajasthan and Gujarat elections. Accusing the movie of working on half-truths, Raut said that the BJP was covering the fact that it had failed to ensure the return of Kashmiri Pandits to their homeland. This despite the abrogation of Article 370 that caused great chaos in 2019.
Regarding the movie, Raut said it depicted the plight of Kashmiri Pandits but widened the Hindu-Muslim divide, even though all three communities – Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs suffered during the attack decades ago. Raut also said that National Conference leader Mohammed Yousuf Halwai was the first person to suffer a political murder in August, 1989.
Moreover, he pointed out that the central government worked under the BJP-supported VP Singh-government when Kashmiri Pandits and Sikhs were forced to leave Kashmir in 1990. Even the Governor at the time was BJP-appointed Jagmohan.
Instead, Raut claimed that his party had done more for Kashmiri Pandits with Founder Bal Thackeray voicing support for the people at the time. Further, he wrote that the Maharashtra government ensured five percent reservation for children of displaced Kashmiri Pandits in medical and engineering education.
Earlier, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray told party members that the Sena will not ally with the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), “the ‘B’ team of the BJP”. In response, Raut had said the Sena will launch a mass outreach programme across Vidarbha and Marathwada regions to address “the confusion” created by the BJP, reported New Indian Express.
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