SRINAGAR: Days after the Bollywood film, Kashmir Files put the box office on fire, Kashmir politicians have started reacting to the untruths and the exaggerations depicted in the film. Former Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah strongly reacted to the contents of the film.
“If The Kashmir Files was a commercial movie, no one has an issue, but if the film-makers claim that it is based on reality, then the facts are the other way round,” Omar told a huge audience down south on the death anniversary of former assembly speaker Wali Mohammad Itoo. An NC lawmaker, Itoo was assassinated by militants at his Jammu residence. “The makers should clarify whether it is a documentary or a film.”
Omar said the film is holding wrong people responsible. “When the unfortunate incident of Kashmiri Pandit migration took place, Farooq Abdullah was not the chief minister,” Imar said. “Jagmohan was the governor. It was V P Singh’s government at the Centre which was supported by the BJP from outside.”
“Why wasn’t VP Singh’s government and BJP shown in the film,” he asked. “It is not right to play with facts. We condemn the killings of Kashmiri Pandits. But didn’t Kashmiri Muslims and Sikhs lose their lives?”
Former Chief Minister cautioned film-makers against the untruths. “Don’t manipulate the truth. It’s not the right thing,” he told reporters. “There is a need to create an atmosphere where we could bring back all those who had left their homes and not create a communal divide.”
He said the film-makers with such interventions want the Pandits to stay out and away from Kashmir. “Today, an impression is being created that all Kashmiris are communal, that all Kashmiris do not bear the people from other religions. What will be achieved by this? Will it make the road easier for their return?” he asked. “I am afraid that the hatred which is being created against Kashmiri Muslims today, God forbid, our children studying outside the state, should not bear its brunt.”
