Image: Shambhavi Thakur | Newslaundry
The Kashmir Files is a polarising movie that has fuelled a massive surge of hate on social media since it first released on March 11. Now this hate has manifested itself offline, on the ground across the country and is most visible as calls for genocide, hate speech, slogans, marches before, and after screenings of the film, which the Hindutva ecosystem has been promoting widely, including influencers buying shows, and tickets to enable larger crowds to see it for free.
The right-wing propogandists then detail their own version of ‘facts’ at the threatre and online calling for Muslim genocide as ‘revenge’ and encourage people to boycott, harass Muslims in any way possible stating that there is no need for “brotherly feelings” among the two communities. Many then to abuse Muslims, threaten to sexually assault Muslim women, harass and torture them until they are forced to leave India. These men and women of the audience, some with children in tow, listen in rapt attention and are then encouraged to participate in ‘nationalistic’ sloganeering, and even join the hate calls. Here are some instances of such hate, which at the moment is all anti-Muslim hate that have been reported on ground.
Delhi, March 24: The Delhi Police made a public statement to call out a city hotel whose receptionist/ manager was filmed on video as she denied a room to a guest from Jammu and Kashmir. She claimed that the ‘special cell” and “Delhi Police” had “instructed” that identity documents from J&K were not to be considered as proof. The man offered to show his Aadhaar card and Passport, both of which would also have his address from J&K. This was in the wake of hate that is visible on ground after the Kashmir Files hit the screens. Shows have been sponsored by right-wing influencers and security has been put in place in many sensitive zones. Here Delhi police also warned social media users who were “trying to discredit” its image that it “can attract penal action”. The Delhi Hotel was listed on Oyo Rooms, which also announced that it had been taken off its platform.
Impact of #KashmirFiles on ground.
Delhi Hotel denies accommodation to kashmiri man, despite provided id and other documents. Is being a kashmiri a Crime. @Nidhi @ndtv @TimesNow @vijaita @zoo_bear @kaushikrj6 @_sayema @alishan_jafri @_sayema @manojkjhadu @MahuaMoitra pic.twitter.com/x2q8A5fXpo
— Nasir Khuehami (ناصر کہویہامی) (@NasirKhuehami) March 23, 2022
A purported video is viral on social media wherein a person is being denied hotel reservation due to his J&K ID. The reason for cancellation is being given as direction from police.
It is clarified that no such direction has been given by Delhi Police.(1/3)@ANI @PTI_News— Delhi Police (@DelhiPolice) March 23, 2022
Jharkhand, March 23: Right-wing mob allegedly assaulted a Class 9 Muslim student in Jharkhand’s Jamshedpur because the latter refused to chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’. According to a video shared by independent journalist Ashraf Hussain, student Altamash Hussain was shown a video of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath before the attack. Around 5-6 students attacked Hussain around March 23, 2022, because he refused to chant Lord Ram’s name. According to the video, Hussain said two of the assaulters were from his school. The group attempted to choke and beat him before Hussain’s friends came to his rescue.
Madhya Pradesh, March 23: Niyaz Khan an IAS officer now faces administrative action following his recent tweets on the movie. He also urged that a film on the ‘killings of large numbers of Muslims across several states’ in India, be made and that the Muslims are ‘not insects, but citizens of the country.’
Income of Kashmir Files reached 150 crore. Great.People have given a lot of respect for Kashmiri Brahmins’ feelings.I would respect film producer to transfer all earnings to the Brahmin children’s education and construction of homes for them in Kashmir. It will be a great charity
— Niyaz Khan (@saifasa) March 20, 2022
If you speak truth fanatics start attacking you. Social media is full of abuses(gali) against me.The language of such haters will only show their low quality education.Educated people use civilized language with great manner. But modern education failed to make civilized citizens
— Niyaz Khan (@saifasa) March 20, 2022
According to the state Home Minister Narottam Mishra, the state government will issue a notice to Khan, a deputy secretary with the MP Public Works Department. Mishra said, Khan was “violating the lakshman rekha (limit) set for (government) officials.”
IAS अधिकारी नियाज़ खान अधिकारियों के लिए तय लक्ष्मणरेखा को लांघ रहे हैं।
राज्य सरकार इस संबंध में उन्हें कारण बताओ नोटिस जारी करेगी और उनसे जवाब तलब किया जायेगा। pic.twitter.com/1g3jvIz5dT
— Dr Narottam Mishra (@drnarottammisra) March 23, 2022
March 22-23 Barwani, Madhya Pradesh: The film’s screening was organised by Sudarshan Vahini President Vinod Sharma. Sharma had been arrested last year in the Jantar Mantar Hate Speech case. Now he and fellow hate-offender Swami Jitendranand Saraswati asked audiences to take up arms and ‘defend the Hindu community’, the hate speech was made in front of young children who are in the audience of an adult film. Another hate offender Rajeev Brahmarshi promised to give every youth in his area a sword. In his Facebook post, he said he will provide 5,000 swords this year instead of 3,000 swords last year to commemorate Ram Navami on April 10.
Rajasthan, March 22: Rajesh Kumar Meghwal, a senior sales manager in a private bank, was abused, harassed, shamed and made to lick spit according to some reports all because he had on a Facebook post, said “not just Pandits but many other castes too have faced all kinds of atrocities” reported The New Indian Express. His comment in the wake of The Kashmir Files movie, enraged those from the so called ‘upper castes’ who forced him into a temple and made him “rub his nose on the floor.” Alwar police have registered a case against 11 people and arrested three, stated the news report. Meghwal had cited the recent fatal attack on Jitendra Pal Meghwal of Pali. He also reportedly questioned why the movie Jai Bhim was not made tax-free. He was called to a meeting at the local temple on Tuesday and alleged he was forced to apologise and “rub his nose on the temple’s floor”. Meanwhile, the report added that on Wednesday Rajasthan Assembly Speaker C P Joshi told the House that “the Kota collector has made it clear that prohibitory orders imposed in the district will not be applicable on the screening of “The Kashmir Files” or any other movie”. On Monday Kota district authorities had imposed Section 144 of the CrPC from March 22 to April 21, and the order stated that “law and order may be affected by anti-social elements during festivals and due to the screening of The Kashmir Files.”
Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, March 20: A man, who was identified by social media users as Dr Brijesh Yadav of Sambhav Hospital gave a ‘pep talk’ instigating the potential audience with unverified facts, and invoking the ‘exile’ of Hindu god Ram adding that “Ram left luxuries but carried his arms, bow and arrow. He tells the people ‘[Hindus] are killed because they have stopped carrying arms. The crowds erupt in cries of Jair Sree ram, which is now appropriated by Hindutva forces as a war cry. He then details crimes including sexual asault and torture saying the film was made “becuase the gods want justice [for Hindus], the slogans continue. He says similar things in the hall and then uploaded a clip on his youtube channel warning theatres which were not showing the polarising film to do so or face action.
Assam, March 20: Hindutva style processions were taken out at an Assam multiplex City Centre. A social media user proudly claimed it was his organisation “Pragjyotishpur Aikya Sangha” which did this after seeing #KashmirFiles.
So it has reached Assam. Right now at City Centre. People taking procession in Bhagwa after seeing #KashmirFiles. pic.twitter.com/yxVxLBUTtp
— Pranjit (@pran_en) March 20, 2022
March 16 onwards, pan India: The Kashmir Files: Calls for Muslim genocide ring out in cinema halls after the screening of The Kashmir Files. It is perhaps for the first time that open calls of hate against Muslims are being given in a public place. Video after video shows how some people rise after each show, in different cities, and claim that the movie has “revealed the truth to them.” Many have gone on to say that the movie is a “warning to Hindus to be careful” as if to indicate that Hindus are in danger. “Hindu khatre mein hain” was the slogan the Hindutva groups have been raising for years, even decades…
Madhya Pradesh, March 14: State police personnel are “allowed a holiday to go watch the movie” as Home Minister Narottam Mishra said that it is important that officers watch this movie especially considering a person from Bhopal plays an important role in this film.
MP Police force will be given a holiday to watch #TheKashmirFiles : Madhya Pradesh’s Home Minister Narottam Mishra pic.twitter.com/rl6BQUy9gP — Ashish (@aashishNRP)
Jammu and Kashmir, March 12 onwards: As hate slowly brews since the film’s release, Kashmiri Pandit Sangarsh Samiti (KPSS), which has been closely observing the hate generated online and offline soon after the Bollywood warned that “The Kashmir Files makes resident Kashmiri Pandits unsafe.” This is corroborated over the following days by scores of Kashmiri Pandits who have stayed back in the Valley and many of who also still live in ‘transit’ camps at Jammu. Sanjay Tickoo, tells SabrangIndia that the film aims to polarise communities, spread hate, and may even fuel violence. The community members also called in an “election stunt” ahead of 2024.
बीबीसी हिंदी ने जम्मू के जगती शरणार्थी शिविर में कुछ लोगों से फ़िल्म ‘कश्मीर फ़ाइल्स’ के बारे में बात की थी. इन लोगों से घाटी के विस्थापित कश्मीरी पंडित के तौर पर बात की गई थी.
— BBC News Hindi (@BBCHindi) March 21, 2022
March 11, Bijnore Uttar Pradesh: Twitter user Rohit Bishnoi shared a video clip where people yelled “Desh ke gaddaron ko, goli maaro s**lon ko” (Translation: Shoot down the traitors) inside a movie hall. This hate slogan was raised, according to a report in The Wire, by members of RSS-linked Hindu Jagran Manch at the SRS Cinema, Bijnor. The men of Bijnor’s Hindu Jagran Manch identified by the report as Kshatriya Anshul Arya and others posted the clips on their Facebook profiles. The report highlighted another video from a different theatre in Bijnor, where as yet unidentified men asked for genocie against Muslims – “Jab Mulle kaate jayenge Ram Ram chillaayenge” (When Muslims are slaughtered, they will cry ‘Ram, Ram’) along with “Bharatiya Janata Party zindabad“.
Public reaction in theatre after watching #TheKashmirFiles .
“Desh ke gaddaro ko goli maro salo ko”#KashmirFiles #TheKashmirFilesreview @vivekagnihotri @AnupamPKher pic.twitter.com/abEwwnwbmD— Rohit.Bishnoi (@The_kafir_boy_2) March 11, 2022
It is crucial to note that Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Ajay Bisht ( aka Adityanath), had also met the film-makers at his Lucknow residence on the same day as did Governor Anandiben Patel. Adityanath tweeted about the meeting by saying in Hindi, “The film ‘The Kashmir Files’ boldly reveals the inhuman catastrophe of religious bigotry and terrorism. Undoubtedly, this film will make the society and the country aware. Congratulations to the entire team for producing such a thought-provoking film.”
Related:
Jharkhand: Youths attack Class 9 student for not chanting Jai Shri Ram!
Silence is not an option: Journalists to India’s Constitutional institutions
The Kashmir Files: Right-wing outfits bring weapons inside theatres!
State failed to contain terrorism, wreaked vengeance on innocent masses: India’s Kashmir War
A Kashmiri Pandit fact-checks The Kashmir Files
UP: Muslim driver brutally thrashed by Hindutva mob in Mathura
The Kashmir Files: Celebrities and politicians warn against propaganda-driven films
Congress to introduce private member bill seeking rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits
The Kashmir Files: Calls for genocide and hate marches by right-wing extremists and trolls