Ruckus In Bihar Assembly After RJD, CPI(ML) MLAs Tear Tickets Of 'The Kashmir Files'

The MLAs of opposition RJD and CPI(ML) tore the free tickets in protest against the alleged attempt by the Bihar government to promote BJP's agenda.

A poster of the movie 'The Kashmir Files' (Photo: ZeeStudios_/Twitter)

New Delhi: Pandemonium erupted in the Bihar assembly on Monday after legislators of the RJD and CPI(ML) tore the tickets of the movie 'The Kashmir Files', forcing the Speaker to adjourn the House.

The Bihar Assembly on Monday had organised a complimentary show of the 'The Kashmir Files' for all MLAs, PTI reported. The tickets were were made available by the BJP at Vidhan Sabha reception.

The MLAs of opposition RJD and CPI(ML) tore the free tickets in protest against the alleged attempt by the Bihar government to promote BJP's agenda.

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During the Zero Hour, members of the RJD and CPI(ML) went to the well of the House, shouting slogans and throwing shreds of torn tickets in the air.

The din led to Speaker Vijay Kumar Sinha adjourning proceedings for more than 30 minutes. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was present in the House when the incident happened.

The Kashmir Files, directed by Vivek Agnihotri and starring Anupam Kher and other veteran actors, has triggered a raging debate among political parties on the issues of Kashmiri Pandits. The film has grossed over Rs 200 crore at the box office.

CPI(ML) legislator Ajeet Kushwaha called the move to give free tickets a clever attempt by the BJP to further its communal agenda. 

"So many movies have been made in the past on all sorts of issues. Never before have we seen such efforts by governments to promote a film," PTI quoted Ajeet Kushwaha as saying.

Fellow party MLA Amarjteet Kushwaha said, "The BJP is drunk on its success in UP elections where CM Yogi Adityanath has earned the nickname bulldozer baba. It now wants to run a bulldozer on Bihar's poor people. We will not let that happen."

On the other hand, BJP MLAs asked the opposition to show some empathy towards the displaced Kashmiri Pandits.

BJP MLA Pramod Kumar, who is also a senior minister, warned the opposition of a backlash from the "common patriotic citizens".

Sandip Saurav, a CPI(ML) legislator, said, "It is not a mere coincidence that there have been so many incidents of people shouting abusive slogans and even assaults on Muslims after watching the movie."

However, most of the BJP and JD(U) legislators watched the film at a theatre near Gandhi Maidan on Monday evening, reports said.

(Wiyth PTI inputs)