BJP Govt Forcing Late Puneeth Rajkumar's Film 'James' Off Screens For 'The Kashmir Files': Ex-CM Siddaramaiah

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the Assembly session, Siddaramaiah alleged that the producer of 'James' had confided in him about the issue.

Karnataka former CM Siddaramaiah. (Image: ANI File)

New Delhi: Congress leader and former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah triggered a controversy on Tuesday by alleging that BJP leaders are forcing movie theatres to screen 'The Kashmir Files' instead of 'James' starring late Kannada superstar Puneeth Rajkumar.

In a series of tweets, Siddaramaiah said that this is not fair whatever is being done by the BJP government.

ಪ್ರತಿಯೊಬ್ಬ ಕನ್ನಡಿಗನೂ ವೀಕ್ಷಿಸಲು ತುದಿಗಾಲಲ್ಲಿ ನಿಂತಿರುವ ದಿವಂಗತ ಪುನೀತ್ ರಾಜ್ ಕುಮಾರ್ ಅವರ ಕೊನೆಯ ಚಿತ್ರ ‘ಜೇಮ್ಸ್’ ಪ್ರದರ್ಶನವನ್ನು ಬಲವಂತದಿಂದ ನಿಲ್ಲಿಸಿ 'ಕಾಶ್ಮೀರಿ ಫೈಲ್ಸ್' ಚಿತ್ರ ಪ್ರದರ್ಶಿಸಲು @BJP4Karnataka ಶಾಸಕರು ಮತ್ತು ಕಾರ್ಯಕರ್ತರು ಚಿತ್ರಮಂದಿರಗಳ ಮೇಲೆ ಒತ್ತಡ ಹೇರುತ್ತಿರುವುದು ಖಂಡನೀಯ. 1/8#PuneethRajkumar

— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) March 22, 2022

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the Assembly session, Siddaramaiah alleged that the producer of 'James' had confided in him about the issue.

"Since the producers of 'James' have booked theatres by paying advance amounts, forcing the theatres to screen 'The Kashmir Files' is nothing but harassment," Siddaramaiah told mediapersons.

'James', which was released on March 17, is Puneeth Rajkumar's last film as an actor. The highly-popular actor and youngest son of thespian Rajkumar died of cardiac arrest in October 2021.

The Vivek Agnihotri directed 'The Kashmir Files', which deals with the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the Valley more than 30 years ago, has been made tax-free by the ruling BJP in Karnataka.

(With IANS inputs)