Director Vivek Agnihotri's controversial movie, 'The Kashmir Files', which, is based on the exodus of Kashmiri Hindus in 1990s, continues to be at the receiving end of severe criticism.
Several political leaders including former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel have pulled up the movie for portraying "half truths and false things".
The movie was released in theaters on 11 March.
"Many false things have been shown in 'The Kashmir Files' movie. During that time Farooq Abdullah was not J&K's CM but Governor's rule was there. VP Singh's govt was there in the country that was backed by BJP," former Jammu and Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah said on Friday, 18 March, and questioned why this fact was not depicted in the film.
"If Kashmiri Pandits have fallen victims to terrorism, we have utmost regret about that, but let's not forget sacrifices of Muslims and Sikhs who were also targeted by the same gun," he said, as per news agency PTI.
National Conference too broke its silence on the movie on Friday and said it is far from truth as the makers of the movie have ignored the sacrifices of the Muslims and Sikhs who also suffered due to militancy.
Just a few days ago on Wednesday, 16 March, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel had slammed the movie as "portraying half-truth and glorifying violence".
He had watched the movie with his Cabinet colleagues and other MLAs at a multiplex in Raipur.
"The entire film is focused on only one family but in the end, the main hero emphasised that not only Hindus, the people of different religions including Buddhists, Muslims, Sikhs were also murdered. But this film has been made to send only one political message that only Kashmiri Pandits were displaced," he had said.
"The film shows half truth. It does not suggest any solution and no attempt is made in this direction. It does not have any message and only shows violence which does not make any sense."Bhupesh Baghel, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister
The Kashmir Files is a movie based on true stories of brutal sufferings endured by Kashmiri Pandits in 1990, during the Kashmir insurgency.
"An attempt was made to give a political message. It is shown in the film that the V P Singh government, which was then in power (at the Centre) with the BJP's support, did not try to stop the Kashmiri Pandits (exodus), rather asked them to leave," the senior Congress leader said.
"The Army was not sent there. When former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi raised the issue in the Lok Sabha, the Army was sent there," he added.
In the Assembly earlier on Wednesday, the BJP had accused the Congress government in the state of not letting movie theatres run at full capacity. Baghel had refrained from commenting stating he shall speak after watching the film.
Baghel said the movie showed the failure of the BJP politicians at the time of the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from Kashmir in the early 1990s.
"Even today, the problem stands the same. Article 370 (that ensured special status to Jammu and Kashmir) has been revoked, but no step taken yet to rehabilitate them (Kashmiri Hindus)."Bhupesh Baghel, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister
He also critiqued the state's BJP MLAs for not joining them to watch the film and said they run away when anyone confronts them.
"Even today, the problem stands the same. Article 370 (that ensured special status to Jammu and Kashmir) has been revoked, but no step taken yet to rehabilitate them (Kashmiri Pandits)," he added.
Meanwhile, the Centre on Friday announced that it will provide 'Y' category security cover to director Vivek Agnihotri with CRPF cover pan India. The movie that is currently doing well at the box office has also triggered anti-Muslim hate speech and violent sloganeering at several theatres.
(With inputs from ANI, PTI)
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