Ghulam Nabi Azad, a senior member of the Congress’ G23, on Sunday said that Pakistan and militancy were responsible for the exodus and killings of the Kashmiri Pandits in the 1990s. The former Leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha was speaking a week after the release of Vivek Agnihotri’s ‘The Kashmir Files‘ – a film that has sparked a debate among political parties. 

Released on March 11, ‘The Kashmir Files’ depicts the exodus of Kashmiri Hindus from the valley following systematic killings of people from the community. Several BJP-ruled states, including Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, have exempted the film from entertainment tax.

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Azad said that political parties, including his own, create division among people on various grounds. 

“Political parties create division (among people) 24×7 on the basis of religion, caste and other things. I’m not forgiving any party, including mine (Congress). Civil society should stay together. Justice must be given to everyone irrespective of caste, religion,” the seventh chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir. from 2005 to 2008, said. 

He further added that ‘Mahatma Gandhi was the biggest Hindu and secularist’. Azad holds Pakistan and terrorists responsible for the exodus. 

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“Pakistan and militancy are responsible for what has happened in Jammu and Kashmir. It has affected all in Jammu and Kashmir, including Hindus, Kashmiri Pandits, Muslims, Dogras,” he added. 

Azad’s statement came after The National Conference on Friday broke its silence on ‘The Kashmir Files’ saying while the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits was a “stain on Kashmiriyat”, the movie was far from the truth as the film makers have ignored the sacrifices of the Muslims and Sikhs who had also suffered from militancy.

Vice President of the party and former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir Omar Abdullah said that if ‘The Kashmir Files’ was a commercial movie, no one has an issue, but if the film makers claim that it is based on reality, then the facts are the other way round.

Meanwhile, at a BJP Parliamentary Party meeting, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his support for the film.