The feud between the AAP and the BJP over the film ‘The Kashmir Files’ escalated on Monday, with the deputy chief minister hitting out at the opposition party accusing it of ”selling the pain” of Kashmiri pandits for Rs 200 crore.
Sisodia also claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is concerned about “Kashmir issues”, while the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is concerned about the plight of Kashmiri Pandits.
Participating in a debate during the ongoing session of the Delhi Assembly, Sisodia demanded that the Rs 200 crore earned from the film be used for the welfare of the displaced Kashmiri Pandits and reconstruction of their homes. He also said the movie should be uploaded to YouTube for everyone to watch.
Sisodia said he would try to watch the film after the budget session.
In his address, he also said that this “huge amount” should either be invested in a new welfare foundation or in existing foundations working for the Kashmiri Pandit community.
”I couldn’t watch the movie, as I was busy with the budget (from Delhi), so I can’t comment on the quality of the movie. But, it is good that a film has been made about the suffering of the Kashmiri Pandit community, and it should be seen by everyone. But, their pain should be felt by other people, not their pain sold in crores,’ Sisodia said.
BJP MP Vijender Gupta attempted to table a motion of no confidence against Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for allegedly calling the film a lie, but the president rejected it.
“After causing the damage, CM Kejriwal went on a frenzy to appear as a benefactor to the Kashmiri pundits. He touts that 200 Kashmir Hindu teachers have been regularized by his government while hiding the fact that he was ordered to do so by the High Court,” Gupta said.
Sisodia told reporters at the assembly premises that the Kejriwal government had regularized teaching jobs for 233 Kashmiri Pandits living in Delhi and arranged their pensions. It has also provided Rs 3,000 per month to Kashmiri Pandit families living in Delhi, the senior AAP official said. But, BJP leaders are only “crying” for the film, he added.
”Arvind Kejriwal has worked to ease the pain of Kashmiri Pandits. The BJP sold this pain for Rs 200 crore which is fake,’ Sisodia continued.
”The Kashmiri Pandits living across the country want to return to Kashmir where they have their homes. What did the BJP do to help them return to Kashmir despite being in power for eight years. The BJP government has failed and they should accept it,’ he said.
Earlier, Speaking in the House, Sisodia said Rs 200 crore (earned from the film) should be used for the welfare of Kashmiri Pandits who had to leave their homes and homes in 1989-90 .
”In fact, a new foundation in their name should be created and this money (earned by the film) should be offered to them. Or, many such foundations already exist, so some more money (‘chanda’) should be added to them, and given to them, so that this money can be used to rebuild their burnt houses, rejuvenate their withered orchards ,” Sisodia said in a moving speech to the Assembly.
”The BJP demands that ”The Kashmir Files” be declared tax exempt. Even though it is duty free, only Rs 9 will be removed on a ticket. Then why not upload it to YouTube for everyone to watch,’ he said.
The film, directed by Vivek Agnihotri and starring Anupam Kher and other veteran actors, sparked a raging debate over Kashmiri Pandit issues and grossed over Rs 200 crore at the box office.
Recently, Chief Minister Kejriwal told the Assembly that the film should be put on YouTube for free so that everyone can watch it. Delhi’s BJP demanded that the film be made tax-free in the nation’s capital.
(This story has not been edited by the Devdiscourse team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
