Muslims will have to pay the price now: Farooq Abdullah on The Kashmir Files

Amid whispers about his alleged ‘role’ in many incidents shown in Vivek Agnihotri’s The Kashmir Files, former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir Farooq Abdullah broke his silence, saying “it’s a propaganda film and the BJP wants to further penetrate people’s heart with hatred”.

The Kashmir Files, released in theatres on March 11, has set the box office on fire. The movie stars Anupam Kher, Pallavi Joshi among others. The film, which the makers claim is inspired by true events, talks about the exodus of Kashmir Pandits in the 1990s.

Also read: Kashmir Files straddles fact and fiction to present a polarising narrative

“They want to further penetrate people’s heart with hatred. They are saying that every policeman and soldier…everybody should see this movie so that they hate us to the extreme, as was in the Germany that Hitler and Goebbels created. Six million Jews had to pay the price then. How many will have to pay the price in India, I don’t know,” Abdullah told India Today in an interview.

“It is a propaganda movie. It has raked up a tragedy that affected every soul of the state, Hindus and Muslims alike. My heart still bleeds over the tragedy. There was an element of political parties that were interested in ethnic cleansing,” he added.

Abdullah, who is an MP now, however, evaded questions from the media outside Parliament on Tuesday. “I think, they should appoint a commission. That will tell them who is responsible,” the National Conference (NC) president said.

On Twitter, BJP’s IT cell head Amit Malviya targeted Omar Abdullah, the son of Farooq Abdullah, for claiming that his father was not responsible for the exodus of Kashmiri pandits from the valley.

“Omar claimed his father Farooq Abdullah was not responsible for the genocide. It was a lie. Here is J&K Migrant Immovable Property Act, introduced by Farooq Abdullah, in which 1Nov1989 is the cut off for exodus. What did he do for 79days, till 18Jan1990, when he resigned as CM? (sic),” Malviya tweeted with a copy of J&K Migrant Immovable Property Act.

Omar claimed his father Farooq Abdullah was not responsible for the genocide. It was a lie. Here is J&K Migrant Immovable Property Act, introduced by Farooq Abdullah, in which 1Nov1989 is the cut off for exodus.

What did he do for 79days, till 18Jan1990, when he resigned as CM? pic.twitter.com/RWwFo5JoWQ

— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) March 21, 2022

“When the unfortunate incident of Kashmiri Pandit migration took place, Farooq Abdullah was not the chief minister. Jagmohan was the governor. It was V P Singh’s government at the Centre which was supported by the BJP from outside,” former CM of J&K Omar had said.

Abdullah was the chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir from November 7, 1986, to January 18, 1990. He was also in office during 1982-84, and later 1996-2002.