The film ‘The Kashmir Files’, based on the tragedy of exodus of Kashmiri Pandits, has become the subject of a nationwide debate. While the cinema halls showing this film are attracting a large number of visitors, the film is not being shown in many cinema halls in Agra. The anger of Hinduist organizations is increasing due to this. Activists demonstrated and locked many theaters for not showing the film. He also threatened theater operators that if the film was not shown, they would have to bear the consequences. After this the police pacified the protesters but there is an atmosphere of fear among the theater operators in Agra.
Govind Parashar, president of a pro-Hindu organisation, led a demonstration at the Sanjay Talkies complex in Agra. The protesters closed the cinema hall and alleged that the film was not being shown in the cinema halls as a part of conspiracy. He claimed that films containing obscenity and showing Indian culture in bad light are being shown in all theatres. Parashar said that the reality of atrocities on Kashmiri Pandits has been shown to everyone in ‘The Kashmir Files’, so the film is not being allowed to be screened at the behest of some bigwigs of Bollywood sitting in Mumbai. If the cinema halls of Agra do not show this film, then no other film will be allowed to play in those cinema halls.
The film The Kashmir Files is being screened in four multiplexes and two single screen cinemas in Agra. According to theater operators, there is a lot of demand for this film but the prints of the film are not being sent by the distributor as per the demand, due to which the film is not playing in all theatres. He said that since March 11, the distributor is constantly being approached for the film, but only one show is being given, which is not enough.
Meanwhile, Bharatiya Muslim Vikas Parishad President Sami Aghai took a dig at the protests organized by pro-Hindu organizations in support of ‘The Kashmir Files’. Aghai said that if the sympathies of Hindu organizations were really with Kashmiri Pandits, they would not have remained silent for 32 years. Instead, they would try to resettle them in Kashmir. He said that some elements wanted to spoil the atmosphere of the country by playing with the sentiments of the public by hiding behind a commercial film to earn money, but their plan would not be successful at all. He said that theater owners have every right to decide which film they will screen in their cinema halls. Outsiders have no right to interfere and if any person does this then the police should immediately arrest him.