Srinagar- The National Conference broke its silence on ‘The Kashmir Files’ on Friday saying that while the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits was a “stain on Kashmiryat”, the film was far from the truth as the filmmakers ignored the sacrifices of the Muslims and Sikhs who had also suffered from militancy.
The party’s deputy chairman and former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah, said that if “The Kashmir Files” was a commercial film, no one has a problem, but if the filmmakers claim it is based on reality, then the facts are the other way around.
“When the unfortunate incident of Kashmiri Pandit migration took place, Farooq Abdullah was not the Chief Minister. Jagmohan was the Governor. It was Vice President Singh’s government at the Center which was supported by the BJP from the outside,” Abdullah told reporters in Damal Hanji Pora. of Kulgam district in South Kashmir.
Abdullah wondered why this fact was left out of the film.
“Don’t manipulate the truth. It’s the wrong thing.
“If Kashmiri Pandits have been victims of militancy, we deeply regret that, but let’s not forget the sacrifices of Muslims and Sikhs who were also targeted with the same weapon,” he said.
Abdullah said some members of the majority community have yet to return.
“Today it is necessary to create an atmosphere where we could bring back all those who had left their homes and not create a community divide,” he said.
The former chief minister said an atmosphere will be created for the return of Kashmiri Pandits.
“But I don’t think the people who made this movie want them (the Kashmiri pundits) back. Through this image, they want the pundits to always stay out,” he said.
Abdullah then took to Twitter and said, “The pain and suffering of 1990 and after cannot be undone. The way Kashmiri pundits had their sense of security ripped away and had to leave the valley is a stain on our Kashmiri culture. We must find ways to bridge the divisions, not add to them.”
While replying to one of a Kashmiri Pandit’s tweets on the reasons for a long silence, Abdullah reminded him saying “…I have been saying this for years now, both as a CM and out of office. Perhaps you weren’t paying attention to what I was saying then. I have long been a supporter of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to look into everything that has happened since 1990.”
Earlier in his address, Abdullah said that attempts were being made to defame a community across the world.
“A common Kashmiris is not happy with what happened 32 years ago, when people were forced to leave the valley. Today, it feels like all Kashmiris are communal, that not all Kashmiris carry people of other religions.Will this make the road to their return easier?
“I fear that the hatred that is being created against Kashmiri Muslims today, God forbid, our children who are studying out of state, does not carry the weight,” he said.
During his tenure as chief minister, Abdullah had advocated the establishment of a truth and reconciliation commission to look into the events that have unfolded since the start of the militancy.
Present bloodshed for dangerous political gains for the country: Tarigami
The migration of Kashmiri Pandits is a tragic chapter in the history of Kashmir, but showing the bloodshed for ‘political gains’ is dangerous for the country and the people, the CPI(M) leader said on Friday, MY Tarigami.
His remarks follow controversy over the recently released film ‘The Kashmir Files’, which is based on the exodus of Kashmiri pandits from the valley in the 1990s.
Speaking to reporters here, Tarigami said there was a need to objectively project the tragedies suffered by the people of Kashmir.
“It is our misfortune that Kashmir has continuously gone through a tragic situation over the past decades, and the most shameful incident that has damaged the identity of Kashmir is the migration of a very important part of our society , Kashmir. Pandits, who left their homes because of fear. There is no doubt that this is a tragic chapter in our history,” he said.
The CPI(M) leader, however, said the fact is also that the violent forces did not target people of any particular religion.
“I have only one thing to ask from those elements who trade in Kashmiri blood by selling it in various markets, please stop. Whoever was killed, whatever his religion, but c was a Kashmiri,” he said.
Referring to various incidents of killings in the valley in the past, Tarigami said that in Wandhama massacre in 1998, 23 Pandits were killed, Gaw Kadal massacre in 1990 cannot be forgotten.
He called for the creation of a truth and reconciliation commission.
“While our innocent brothers and sisters from the minority community were killed in Budgam, who killed the bus passengers in Kupwara? If an innocent sister from the Pandit community was raped and killed in Sopore, then what happened in Kunan Poshpora? Tarigami said.
“If Hindus and Muslims were killed, our brothers and sisters from the Sikh community were also killed in Chattisinghpora (in 2000). I want the Prime Minister to be bold and establish a truth and reconciliation commission as after apartheid in Africa to find out who was killed and by whom. Those killed will not come back, but accountability will be established. Their families will know who killed them,” he said.
The CPI(M) leader said ‘highlighting bloodshed for political gain is dangerous for the country, the people and for Kashmir.’
“I want to say this to the people in power that Kashmir is not a piece of land, but Kashmir is the name of a civilization. We have a history of 5000 years which cannot be erased. Our identity cannot be erased. not be obliterated by explosives either from here or through. I want to appeal to the BJP not to share my tears and the tears of my friends,” Tarigami added.
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