Shiv Sena sees no advantage in BMC polls due to 'The Kashmir Files': ‘Not right to…’

The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government earlier rejected the BJP’s demand to waive entertainment tax on Vivek Agnihotri’s film which is based on the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the Valley.

With Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections slated soon, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut said that ‘The Kashmir Files’ will not provide a political advantage to anyone in the coming polls. Vivek Agnihotri’s film based on the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits has stirred controversy as critics fear that the film will end up inciting hatred against the Muslim community.

Shiv Sena's Sanjay Raut. (HT File)

“It is not right to do politics on a sensitive issue like Kashmir... 'The Kashmir Files' is just a film, I don't think it will provide any political advantage to anyone in the coming elections. By the time elections come, the film will be gone,” Raut told reporters.

"Whether the events shown in the film are true or not can be discussed later. Many things shown in the film are being questioned that are not true. Many people are also saying that there are many facts that were supposed to be shown, but are not shown. Muslims were also among those who died at that time. There were many officers whose lives were saved by Muslims, these are all such things that could be in the film but are not there," he added.

While Congress leaders have accused the filmmaker of twisting facts to whip up anger and promote violence, the film was endorsed by BJP leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Hitting out at the detractors, PM Modi said that "those who carry around the flag of freedom of expression, that whole bunch is rattled for the last few days."

Amid allegations and counter-allegations, Raut had earlier said that the politics of ‘The Kashmir Files’ was not right. Referring to the work done by party founder Bala Saheb Thackeray for Kashmir Pandits, which was also highlighted in the movie, the Rajya Sabha member said that the entire country knows Sena’s sentiments for Kashmir and Kashmiri Pandits.

The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government earlier rejected the BJP’s demand to waive entertainment tax on Agnihotri’s film. Shiv Sena leader defended the decision saying his party did not demand tax exemption for a film on the life of Bala Saheb Thackrey.

(with ANI inputs)