Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and National Conference (NC) working president Omar Abdullah, on Friday, claimed that the movie The Kashmir Files, based on the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the Valley, shows many things that are false.
Abdullah told reporters in Kulgam district of South Kashmir that it wasn't clear if the project, helmed by Vivek Agnihotri, was a documentary or a movie. "If it is a documentary then it was alright, but the makers have themselves claimed that the movie was based on reality. But the fact is that many lies have been projected in the film," he was quoted as saying.
He pointed out that the movie wrongly shows that the NC government was in power when the exodus happened, and said Jammu and Kashmir was under governor's rule when the incidents took place. "At the Centre it was the BJP-backed government headed by V.P. Singh,” news agency Kashmir News Observer has quoted him as saying.
The remarks come after several BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, praised the movie. Home Minister Amit Shah had termed it a bold representation of truth, and said the film highlighted before the world the sacrifice, unbearable pain and struggle of the Kashmiri Pandits.
Abdullah said not just Kashmiri Pandits, but Sikhs and Muslims too were killed. “Muslims and Sikhs have also migrated from Kashmir who haven’t returned yet.”
The former chief minister claimed that the movie has spoiled the NC's continuous efforts of trying to bring back Kashmiri Pandits safely.