New Delhi: Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) MP Sanjay Raut on Tuesday alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Centre was "busy with publicity" when maximum number of killings of Kashmiri Pandits took place after the movie 'Kashmir Files' was released, reported news agency ANI. "It's true about Kashmir Files. There was propaganda by one party against another. A party and Government was busy with publicity. But maximum number of killings in Kashmir occurred after this film. Kashmir Pandits, security personnel were killed," he said.
"Where were these Kashmir Files people then? The children of Kashmiri Pandits were also agitating, where were they then? Nobody came forward then, nor were there plans for a Kashmir Files 2.0 - make that too," he said.
Vivek Agnihotri's movie, Kashmir Files, which released in March this year has been caught in a stir after Israeli director Nadav Lapid made strong comments criticising the movie at the International Film Festival of India terming it as a "vulgar" and "propoganda" film. Lapid's comments have drawn appreciation and criticism alike from various quarters.
Reacting to Raut's statement, former Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister K Gupta said that such comments are made to defame India.
"Much more has happened to Kashmiri Pandits than what was shown in the movie 'Kashmir Files'. Some agencies are trying to defame India through Islamic movement. CAA, farmers' protest were also a part of it," he said, speaking to the news agency.
Lapid's comment drew ire from Israel's Ambassador to India, Naor Gilon. The diplomat took to his twitter handle and shared pointers bringing to light how the Israeli filmmaker disrespected Indians by calling a film based on real life incidents "propaganda" and "vulgar".
"Feel free to use liberty to sound your criticism of what you dislike in Israel but no need to reflect your frustration on other countries," he added.