Politics Over 'The Kashmir Files': Sharad Pawar Says BJP Creating 'Poisonous Atmosphere' In Country

Pawar said the facts really confirm that Kashmiri Pandits had to leave the valley, but Muslims too were targeted in a similar manner.

NCP chief Sharad Pawar (File photo: getty)

New Delhi: NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Thursday attacked the BJP government for creating a "poisonous atmosphere" in the country by spreading "false propaganda" about the mass exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the valley through the film "The Kashmir Files".

"Such a film should not have been cleared for screening. But it is given tax concessions and those responsible for keeping the country united are encouraging people to watch the film that stokes anger among people," Pawar said, addressing a convention of the minorities department of the Delhi unit of his party.

This was the second occasion of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in Delhi in three days. It is additionally arranging a huge social event in the national capital to mark its foundation day on June 10.

Pawar said the facts really confirm that Kashmiri Pandits had to leave the valley, but Muslims too were targeted in a similar manner.

"Pakistan-based terror groups were responsible for the attacks on Kashmiri Pandits and Muslims," he added.

The former Union minister said assuming the Narendra Modi government truly thinks often about Kashmiri Pandits, it should make every effort for their rehabilitation and not stoke anger in their mind about minorities.

Pawar additionally hit out at BJP for dragging Jawaharlal Nehru, the first prime minister of the country, into the discussion, while bringing up that the Kashmiri Pandits needed to leave the valley when Vishwanath Pratap Singh was the prime minister.

"The V P Singh government was backed by the BJP. Mufti Mohammad Sayeed was the home minister and Jagmohan, who later contested the Lok Sabha polls from Delhi as a BJP candidate, was the governor of Jammu and Kashmir," he said.

Pawar said the then Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah had stopped following differences with Jagmohan and it was the governor who worked with the departure of Kashmiri Pandits from the valley.

He additionally hammered the BJP for focusing on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over his comments on "The Kashmir Files".

"Political agitations are welcome, but Kejriwal was criticised for speaking up for minorities. The BJP is taking the country on a different path. It is destroying the unity of the country," Pawar said.

(WIth PTI inputs)