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It is astonishing to see how the entire government machinery in many states and even some top Union government officials are going all out to promote one movie. The movie in question is The Kashmir Files, directed by Vivek Agnihotri and documents the trials and tribulations of the Kashmiri Pandit community that was forced to leave their homes in wake of a Pakistan sponsored intimidation campaign in the region in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
The film’s biggest endorsement has come from Prime Minister Narendra Modi who met the filmmakers, and also defended and praised the film. He mocked a ‘jamaat’ that he claims “walk around with the flag of ‘freedom of expression’”. The PM added that the criticism of the film was a “conspiracy is being run by an entire ecosystem”.
इन दिनों #TheKashmirFiles फिल्म की चर्चा हो रही है,
जो लोग ‘freedom of expression’ के झंडे लेकर घूमते हैं, वो बौखलाए हुए हैं।
एक पूरे इकोसिस्टम द्वारा षड्यंत्र चलाया जा रहा है।
जो सत्य है उसको सही स्वरूप में देश के सामने लाना, देश की भलाई के लिए होता है।
– पीएम @narendramodi pic.twitter.com/nWgq0R9riI
— BJP (@BJP4India) March 15, 2022
The PM’s words were echoed, and added to in Parliament by Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman who added that the previous “National Conference led government” and the Congress were involved in facilitating the exodus. She said women were raped “in front of their husbands…I can’t even utter this” adding that while this happened in Kashmir in 1990 the truth never came out and there was and is “a constant denial”.
‘कश्मीर फाइल्स’ के बारे में बात करते समय ये याद करना चाहिए कि जब हिन्दुओं के साथ इतना कुछ घट रहा था, तो वे इससे कैसे निकलें।
कश्मीरी पंडित जब परेशानियों का सामना कर रहे थे, तब वहां नेशनल कॉन्फ्रेंस नीत सरकार थी और उसमें कांग्रेस शामिल थी।
– वित्त मंत्री श्रीमती @nsitharaman pic.twitter.com/uLyNRWMGpr
— BJP (@BJP4India) March 15, 2022
Meanwhile, the right wing ecosystem has been promoting as the ‘truth’ and also fanning flames of anti-Muslim hate, both online and offline. While at the same time, many Kashmiri Pandits themselves have said that the film has sensationalised the issue, and not addressed their real concerns which have been ignored by multiple governments so far. This BBC video report posted to Twitter brilliantly captures how Kashmiri Pandits feel.
‘ये फ़िल्म 2024 चुनाव के लिए स्टंट है’
‘इस तरह के फ़िल्में दूरियां पैदा करेगी’
‘द कश्मीर फ़ाइल्स’ फ़िल्म पर जम्मू में रहने वाले कश्मीरी पंडित क्या कह रहे हैं?
वीडियोः मोहित कंधारी, बीबीसी के लिए
एडिटः देबलिन रॉय pic.twitter.com/4DhXOpBuMc— BBC News Hindi (@BBCHindi) March 16, 2022
The Kashmir Files hit the theatres on March 11, and stars Agnihotri’s wife Pallavi Joshi, Darshan Kumar, and veteran actors Anupam Kher and Mithun Chakroborty in key roles. Chief ministers of many BJP-ruled states have posted images of themselves watching the movie with their cabinet colleagues. In fact, chief ministers of Uttar Pradesh, Goa, Tripura, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Haryana, Gujarat, Uttarakhand have made it tax free in their states. Many non-BJP leaders have called the film a ‘propaganda’, aimed at harvesting hate in the run up to the 2024 general elections.
Therefore, it was more than a surprise when Congress ruled Chattisgarh’s Chief Minister Bhupesh Bahgel “invited all MLAs in the state” to join him for a screening of the film ‘The Kashmir Files,’ on Wednesday. He said, “I have invited all members of the assembly, from across party lines, for a screening of the film ‘The Kashmir Files.’ At 8pm tonight, all those who have been invited will watch the film together at a cinema hall in the capital.” The screening is to be held at Magneto Mall in Raipur.
Baghel added that as “BJP MLAs have demanded that ‘Kashmir Files’ should be made tax free. I request the Hon’ble Prime Minister to announce the removal of Central GST from this film. The film will be tax free across the country.”
भाजपा के विधायकगणों ने मांग की है कि ‘कश्मीर फ़ाइल्स’ को टैक्स फ़्री कर दिया जाए।
मैं माननीय प्रधानमंत्री से अनुरोध करता हूं कि वे इस फ़िल्म से केंद्रीय जीएसटी हटाने की घोषणा करें। पूरे देश में फ़िल्म टैक्स फ़्री हो जाएगी। @PMOIndia
— Bhupesh Baghel (@bhupeshbaghel) March 16, 2022
आज विधानसभा के सभी सम्मानित सदस्यों (पक्ष-विपक्ष सहित) को एक साथ ‘कश्मीर फ़ाइल्स’ फिल्म देखने के लिए आमंत्रित किया है।
आज रात 8 बजे राजधानी के एक सिनेमा हॉल में हम सभी विधायक/आमंत्रित नागरिक एक साथ फिल्म देखेंगे।
— Bhupesh Baghel (@bhupeshbaghel) March 16, 2022
He later told the media that he will watch the film and then give his comments.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has shown interest in the movie The Kashmir Files. We will watch the movie & will definitely give a reaction on it. I have also invited MLAs to watch the movie: Congress leader & Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel pic.twitter.com/wOjW5hJYo5
— ANI (@ANI) March 16, 2022
In wake of the movie’s release, Hindutva-driven hate has been spreading on social media with cries of India’s Hindus to open their eyes. While it is not surprising that right-wing extremist elements would resort to such actions, what is shocking is that this time BJP ministers and government officials are going out of their way to make the movies accessible to the masses.
The nation must know the truth!
I am honored to host colleagues & friends in Delhi for a special screening of #TheKashmirFiles. Every Indian should see the film based on true events to learn how the truth has been suppressed for so long. pic.twitter.com/4Zo536eIkM— Baijayant Jay Panda (@PandaJay) March 15, 2022
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced half-day leave for government employees who want to watch the movies, saying all they needed to do was bring back the ticket stubs as evidence the following day. But this move backfired and drew him criticism from various quarters:
Shameful governance. Tomorrow they may officially be permitted to participate in a Goli-maaro-saalon-ko event! https://t.co/dgxFL6IAmp
— Om Thanvi (@omthanvi) March 16, 2022
is that enough? wont it be better to deduct one day salary if they don’t watch it? And maybe have some mandatory questions to answer online, in case anyone doses through the movie! A lot more is needed! https://t.co/nFujyo4FYg
— Sucheta Dalal (@suchetadalal) March 16, 2022
Time-off to govt employees to watch #TheKashmirFiles during work hours is becoming viral among Indian provinces. Sad to be watching such an unravelling of state mechanism in a country that used to set the examples. https://t.co/rJQRe88gID
— Kanak Mani Dixit (@KanakManiDixit) March 16, 2022
Related:
Maintaining harmony is responsibility of Muslims: Assam CM
Hate floods in the wake of ‘The Kashmir Files’