Kashmiris Are Reclaiming Their Space

‘Kashmiris Are Reclaiming Their Space Across The State’

Ajay Pandita, a Kashmiri who lives in Gurugram, has been happy to see positive changes coming to his home-state after abrogation of Article 370. His views

I belong to a small and remote village in Baramulla district of Kashmir. A couple of months back, I visited my native place and was pleased to see that a metaled road lead to my village. Not only my village, but most of the villages that I visited with my friends during my stay of over 25 days presented the same picture. Residents told me rural roads were being laid out on a war footing under Gram Sadak Yojna.

Next, I visited Kashmir during the time when the G20 summit was being held in Srinagar. I was happy to see a thriving Srinagar and adjoining areas teeming with tourists. This had a cascading effect on the sales of Kashmiri handcraft, traditional farm products and hospitality-lined sectors. Besides the better roads and other infrastructure, I was happy to seek Kashmir people’s participation in this ‘new Kashmir’.

I seriously felt that Kashmir was returning to its real self, one that it was before the tumultuous 1980s. Children were joyfully going to schools, shops were keeping open till late, there have been no bandh calls, cinema halls are running to packed houses and late evening strolls around Lal Chowk are becoming commonplace. In short, Kashmiri people are reclaiming their public space.

I noticed that Jammu-Kashmir was passing through a remarkable economic transformation, with significant growth and positive outcomes seen in the business environment and every other aspect of the native life. The lifting of Article 370 has not only reduced barriers to investment in the region but has attracted both domestic and foreign investors, resulting in substantial capital inflows across various sectors.

Pandita paying obeisance to Goddess Sharada

Though I was not a part of the celebrations on the Independence Day at Lal Chowk this year, my friends and relatives have shared many images of the event via messaging apps. I am happy to see the Chowk’s glory and magnificence not just returning to its past but actually getting better and more outstanding now.

ALSO READ: ‘Netas Run Their Shops, Kashmiris Want To Run Theirs’

I have little doubt in my mind that this has been made possible with the abrogation of Article 370 and my home-state is slowly and surely regaining its lost stature, charm, culture, and everything else lost to the several decades of violence.

There has also been a drastic change in people’s mind-set post-2019 and the surge in social media is one of the major factors that accounted for it. Young boys and girls are sharing their stories and scenes from downtown Srinagar and adjoining parts to convey the change. The Kashmiri youth have also realised the evil plans of Pakistan and can be seen actively confronting their narrative on social media sites. This has proved to be the last nail in the coffin of anti-nationals who always found faults in New Delhi decisions.

Here, I would also like to mention that most Kashmiri Pandits are grateful to filmmaker Atul Agnihotri who made The Kashmir Files andpresented our story to masses. It not only exposed the ‘sinners’ and uncovered the reality of what the beautiful place and its people faced because of the policies of a few families in power (I do not wish to even take their names).

We, as Kashmiri natives, just hope and pray that things get better with the passage of time and our coming generations should never see what our parents and forefathers have seen and lived.

(The narrator is a civil engineer by profession, currently working employed with Ansal Group as vice president)

As told to Rajat Rai

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Kashmir SRK Taapsee

SRK-Taapsee’s Shoot In Kashmir A Shot In Arm For Economy, Tourism

Bollywood is once again making its presence felt in the valley! The move is expected to give a significant boost to the economy of Kashmir and promote tourism in the region.

The shooting of back-to-back Bollywood films in Kashmir has generated excitement among locals and tourists alike.
According to Iliyas Ahmad, CEO of the Sonamarg Development Authority, the arrival of Bollywood stars like Shahrukh Khan and Taapsee Pannu will not only bring economic benefits to the region but also put Kashmir on the global map of tourism.”

Shah Rukh and Taapsee reached Kashmir for the shoot of Rajkumar Hiarani’s ‘Dunki’. Vicky Kaushal is also a part of this movie.

“We are eagerly waiting for Bollywood to come here. We are ready with all facilities and will develop infrastructure further,” said a local hotelier.

This love affair between Kashmir and Bollywood dates back to 1949 when Raj Kapoor shot parts of his film ‘Barsaat’ in the valley. Since then, the Kashmir Valley has become a popular location for filmmakers, with several Bollywood films like ‘Kashmir Ki Kali’, ‘Jab Jab Phool Khile’, and ‘Bobby’ being shot there in the 60s and 70s.

After a brief hiatus due to unfortunate circumstances in the region, Bollywood made a comeback to Kashmir in the 2000s with films like ‘Mission Kashmir’ and ‘Haider’.

In recent years, many popular Bollywood films and web series have been shot in Kashmir, giving rise to local actors like Mir Sarwar and Zaira Wasim.

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha’s recent announcement of a new film policy and the opening of cinema halls in every district of the union territory have given a boost to the aspirations of local filmmakers and actors.

“We are delighted to see the resurgence of Bollywood in Kashmir and hope that it will lead to more opportunities for local talent to shine on the big screen,” said a local Line producer.

As Kashmir continues to make strides in its development and peace initiatives, the return of Bollywood to the valley is seen as a significant milestone that will help showcase the region’s beauty and cultural richness to the world. (ANI)

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Hundreds Turn Out For Last Rites Of Kashmiri Pandit

Hundreds Turn Out For Last Rites Of Kashmiri Pandit

Hundreds of Kashmiris turned out for the last rites of Kashmiri Pandit Sanjay Sharma, who was shot dead by terrorists at a marketplace in Pulwama on February 26.

Terrorists attacked and fatally shot Sharma when he was on his way to the local market in Pulwama on Sunday.

Senior police officers in the Pulwama district also attended the cremation ceremony of the slain security guard.

A police officer said Sharma was shot dead by terrorists in Achan area of Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Sunday morning.

A critically injured Sharma was rushed to a nearby hospital, with the help of locals. However, he succumbed to his bullet injuries.

Earlier, suspected terrorists had opened fire on Asif Ganai, a local, outside a mosque in the Anantnag district. The man, however, survived the attack.

Meanwhile, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti slammed the BJP at the Cenrre over the killing of the Kashmiri Pandit in Pulwama district.

Mufti said, “BJP has failed in protecting the lives of our minorities.”

“BJP has failed in protecting the lives of minorities here. They only use minorities to project an illusion of normalcy in the Valley,” Mufti tweeted on Sunday.

She also added that the BJP uses such incidents to put a stain on the “image of Muslims in the country”.

“BJP use these types of incidents to degrade the image of Muslims in the country. I condemn this act. This is not the behaviour of the Kashmiri people. All these acts show the failure of the government,” the PDP chief said. (ANI)

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Kashmiri Pandits jammu

Shift Kashmiri Pandits To Safer Jammu Till Situation Improves: Ghulam Nabi Azad

Democratic Azad Party Chief and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said that the Kashmiri Pandit employees of the Jammu and Kashmir government should be temporarily shifted to Jammu till the situation improves in Kashmir.

Questioning the safety of the Kashmiri Pandits, he said that life is more important than employment and that the government should transfer Kashmiri Pandits to Jammu.
“The Government should transfer Kashmiri Pandit employees to Jammu and transfer them back only when the situation improves,” said Azad.

“If our government comes to power, we will transfer the Kashmiri Pandits to Jammu until the situation improves,” he said.

Lt Governor Manoj Sinha had last week said that Kashmiri Pandits serving in the Valley will not be paid their salaries if they do not attend their duties.

Migrant Kashmiri Pandits have been protesting against the decision of the government claiming that they are being threatened by the terrorists and can’t go back to work.

“We are receiving death threats repeatedly, the latest being on Wednesday night. We were told that a policeman would be posted outside the place of our posting. But we do not trust the security policy of the administration,” said a Kashmiri Pandit.

“The main reason behind the protests is an insecure environment prevailing in Kashmir. We have been protesting since the day targeted killings started against the minority community in the Valley. We appeal to the government to post us at safe and secure places,” said Rohit, a Kashmiri Pandit who is participating in the protests.

Kashmir has been witnessing a series of targeted killings since October last year.

Targeted killings in Kashmir Valley were part of a larger conspiracy by terrorists of Hizbul Mujahideen and other proscribed terrorist outfits to disturb the peace and democratic process established by the Panchayati Raj System in Kashmir Valley and also to create terror among the politically elected representatives, an NIA charge sheet said earlier.

The revelation came when the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in September filed the charge sheet against six accused in the targeted killing of a Sarpanch of Adoora village in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kulgam.

The counter-terror agency filed the chargesheet in a special NIA court in Jammu in the case of the targeted killing of Sarpanch Shabir Ahmad Mir by the terrorists of the proscribed terrorist outfit Hizbul Mujahideen.

The case was initially registered on March 11 at Kulgam police station in Jammu and Kashmir and re-registered by the NIA on April 8.

Investigations have revealed that the handlers of the proscribed terrorist organization Hizbul Mujahideen operating from Pakistan, hatched a criminal conspiracy in collusion with terrorist associates and Over Ground Workers and terrorists of Hizbul Mujahideen active in Kashmir Valley to carry out the targeted killing of Sarpanch Shabir Ahmad Mir, said the NIA. (ANI)

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Home Secretary Meet On Kashmir

Home Secretary To Chair High-Security Meet On Kashmir

Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla will chair a high-level security review meeting on Jammu and Kashmir, here this afternoon, sources said on Tuesday.

The meeting is being held in the Ministry of Home Affairs in a hybrid mode around 12.30 pm with senior officials in the ministry joining it in the presence of Director Intelligence Bureau Tapan Deka and National Investigation Agency Director General Dinkar Gupta among others present physically.
Officials in the Ministry told ANI that the meeting is a “regular affair to review internal security across the country”.

“Officials in Jammu and Kashmir will also join the meeting, which is being held in a hybrid mode,” said the officials requesting anonymity.

The meeting was held after The Resistance Front (TRF)– an offshoot of Pakistan-based terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba– recently issued a threat letter to 56 employees of the Education Department from the Srinagar district.

Meanwhile, as per government sources, various Kashmiri Pandit organisations while terming it a serious matter have demanded a high-level probe into the matter as to how the names of the employees working under the PM package in the Education Department with their names and place of posting were leaked to a terror outfit.

They have urged the government to ensure the safety of employees appointed under the PM’s package in Kashmir Valley. (ANI)

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Anupam Kher on kashmir files

Close Your Eyes If You Can’t See Truth: Kher Over IFFI Jury’s Statement

Veteran actor Anupam Kher, who played the protagonist in the blockbuster ‘The Kashmir Files’, which documents the alleged genocide and exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the Valley, on Tuesday spoke up on the raging controversy over the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) jury head and Israeli filmmaker Nadav Lapid’s statement calling the film ‘a propaganda’ and ‘vulgar’ at the festival’s closing ceremony on Monday.

Taking to Instagram, the actor, who recently appeared in the Sooraj R. Barjatiya directorial ‘Uunchai’, dropped a video on Instagram saying that some people can’t stomach ‘Kashmir’s truth’.

In his short video address on the social media platform, Kher said, “Friends, some people are not in the habit of showing the truth as it is. They like to give it a certain colour or cover up the truth in the name of creative liberty. The fact is that some people are not being able to digest Kashmir’s truth. They try to show Kashmir through a different cinematic lens and have been at it for the last 25-30 years. ‘The Kashmir Files’ has exposed them.”

He added, “They are having problems because the film documents the truth as it is. If you cannot see the truth, keep your eyes closed and your mouth shut. Stop making fun of it. This is our truth and we have lived through it.”

The veteran actor, who drew high praise for his performance in the film, said without taking names, “We, along with our daughters and sisters personally experienced those days. The scars are yet to heal. This truth is a part of our lives. Go and ask the ones who have been affected by it. India and Israel are friends and both countries are affected by terrorism. A common Israeli would understand the pain of Kashmiri Hindus. But, every country has traitors.”

He tagged his video post with a message that read, “The truth of Kashmir files is stuck like a thorn in the throat of some people. They are not able to swallow it or spit it out! Their soul, which is dead, is shattered badly to prove this truth false. But this film of ours is now a movement, not a movie. People’s consciousness has awakened. The desperate #Toolkit gang keeps trying millions. #TheKashmirFiles #Truth #TruthPrevails”.

Addressing the closing ceremony of the 53RD IFFI, Lapid termed ‘The Kashmir Files’ a ‘propaganda, vulgar film’, adding that he was ‘shocked’ to see the film in the competition section of such a prestigious film festival.

“If the holocaust was right then the exodus of Kashmiri pandits is also right. This (Lapid’s statement) seems pre-planned as immediately after, the tool-kit gang became active. It’s shameful for him to make a statement like this as he comes from a community whose members suffered the horrors of the holocaust,” Kher told ANI on Tuesday.

“By making a statement like this, he has also hurt the holocaust survivors. I wish God gives him (Lapid) the wisdom so that he doesn’t use our tragedy to peddle his agenda on stage,” the veteran actor added.

Kher also tweeted on Lapid’s statement, saying, “No matter how high the height of the lie is.. It is always small in comparison to the truth.”

The veteran actor also juxtaposed images of ‘The Kashmir Files’ and Steven Spielberg’s ‘Schindler’s List’ in his tweet to drive home his point.

ANI contacted the festival organisers but they refused any comments on the jury head’s statement. (ANI)

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Pallavi Joshi on IFFI

Creative Forums Used For Agenda Politics: Pallavi Joshi On IFFI Row

Actor-producer Pallavi Joshi, who starred and part-produced ‘The Kashmir Files’, on Tuesday, opened up on the snowballing controversy over Israeli filmmaker and IFFI Jury Head Nadav Lapid labeling the blockbuster as ‘a propaganda’ and a ‘vulgar’ film.

Taking to her Instagram handle, the actor, who also bank-rolled ‘The Tashkent Files’, posted, “For decades, the international community remained silent on the sufferings of the Kashmiri Pandit Community. After 3 decades, the Indian film industry finally realized that it needs to tell India’s story truthfully and objectively.”

“Vivek (Agnihotri, the director of ‘The Kashmir Files’) and I were always aware that there are elements that would not like to see the stark truth on the screen, but it is very unfortunate that a creative platform was used for a political agenda to preserve an old, false and jaded narrative about Kashmir,” the 53-year-old actor wrote.

Coming down hard on the Israeli filmmaker while thanking those who jumped to the film’s defence on social media, the ‘Trishagni’ actress added, “We are overwhelmed by the way people of India rose to defend ‘The Kashmir Files’ against the rude and vulgar statements of a genocide denier.”

Joshi went on to ‘assure the audience’ that ‘The Kashmir Files’ was. indeed, ‘a people’s film’.

She added that her production house ‘I Am Buddha’ foundation “stands for India” and “will continue on the path of truth and resilience to keep making meaningful cinema with original Indian content”.

Addressing the closing ceremony of the 53rd Internation Film Festival of India (IFFI) on Monday, Lapid said he was ‘shocked’ to see the film in the competition section of such a prestigious film festival.

A video clip of the closing ceremony, showing the Israeli helmer making the controversial remarks, went viral on social media.

His statement drew a fierce backlash from netizens, as well as actors Anupam Kher and Darshan Kumaar, who portrayed key roles in the film.

Filmmaker Ashoke Pandit and Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) vice president Abhinav Prakash, too, lashed out at the Israeli filmmaker over his statement.

The film, which is a portrayal of the alleged genocide and exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the Valley in the 90s, was released earlier this year and went on to become a major blockbuster. (ANI)

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Anupam of the The Kashmir Files IFFI

Shameful, Says Anupam After IFFI Calls The Kashmir Files As Vulgar

Veteran actor Anupam Kher of the ‘The Kashmir Files’ fame on Tuesday said it is “shameful” on the part of IFFI (International Film Festival of India) jury head Nadav Lapid to term the film “propaganda, vulgar” at the festival’s closing ceremony.

During the closing ceremony of the IFFI on On November 28, Lapid termed ‘The Kashmir Files’ a “propaganda, vulgar film”, adding that he was “shocked” to see the film in the competition section of such a prestigious film festival.
“If the holocaust was right then the exodus of Kashmiri pandits is also right. This seems pre-planned because immediately after it the tool-kit gang became active. It’s shameful for him to make a statement like this even though he comes from a community of Jews who suffered from the holocaust,” Kher told ANI on Tuesday.

“So by making a statement like this, he has also pained those people who suffered this tragedy. I would just say may god give him wisdom so that he doesn’t use the tragedy of thousands of people to fulfill his aim on stage,” he added.

Referring to Lapid’s remarks, Anupam Kher also tweeted, “No matter how high the height of the lie is. It is always small in comparison to the truth.” The veteran actor attached pictures from ‘The Kashmir Files’ and Steven Spielberg’s film ‘Schindler’s List’ with his tweet.

When ANI contacted festival organisers on the jury head’s statements over the ‘Kashmir Files’, they declined to comment.

Released earlier this year, the ‘The Kashmir Files’ was listed in the line-up for IFFI’s Indian Panorama segment for the year 2022. The film is based on the life of Kashmiri Pandits in 1990, during the Kashmir insurgency. It is a true story, based on video interviews of the first generation. (ANI)

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‘Yasin Malik’s Verdict Is Balm On Kashmir Pandits’ Wounds’

Deepak Kachru, a Kashmiri Pandit living in Lucknow since early 90s, India must also guard against the sympathisers of terrorists like Yasin Malik

Displaced Kashmiri Pandits, as a community, had lost hope in the system and accepted the life outside their homeland as their fait accompli for three decades. However two decisions – the removal of Article 370 in 2019 by the Union government and life sentence to Yasin Malik by a special court recently – have come as a healing touch to our wounds.

The life sentence awarded to Malik is for terror funding; he is yet to face the trial for killing of innocent Kashmiri Pandits. Anything less than a death sentence for a person who has killed many innocents, including Indian Air Force officers, and raped women and children will not be acceptable to our community.

Nevertheless, there is some progress on the justice front. There are many culprits responsible for the plight of Pandits and we expect this government to hear the cases related to Kashmir in fast-track courts.

Removal of Article 370 has proved to be a relief not only for the Pandits but for the entire region and whole of Kashmiri people. There has been a substantial fall in the terror activities and support from across the border too is dwindling. Tourism and businesses are slowly reviving in the Valley. This year the tourist footfall created a record.  

Kachru says Narendra Modi has reignited hope among Kashmiri Pandits

Earlier (before the abrogation of Article 370) criminals like Yasin Malik were enjoying all kinds of support and hospitality from inside our own territory, under previous governments. In spite of theses concessions, they did not consider themselves as a part of India.

ALSO READ: Kashmir Incomplete Without Pandits, Says Khushboo Mattoo

The Narendra Modi government has taken several bold steps and ignited hope amongst Kashmiri people as a whole. Terror modules are still there but now they are picking up soft targets such as government employees, non-Kashmiris or SPOs; earlier the terrorists would attack security forces too.

The time is ripe for the government to rid the Valley of terrorism and terrorists for once and all. Bringing the guilty to book and awarding them strict punishment will go a long way in setting an example. There are many more of the ilk of Yasin Malik who must be brought to justice for their nefarious actions.

At the same time, I must say that there are many sympathisers of these anti-nationals amongst us only. Indian government and citizens must guard against these elements. The situation is in our favour and we must make the most of it in establishing the rule of law. This will send a strong message to terrorists and their handlers across the border.

As told to Rajat Rai 

‘Kashmir Files Is A Political Ploy To Demonize Muslims’

Majid Maqbool, a senior journalist from Srinagar, saysthe movie seeks to selectively exploit the tragedy of Kashmiri Pandits and promote hatred

The Kashmir Files has been released at a time when Kashmir remains besieged, post August 5, 2019, following the unilateral abrogation of Article 370 by the ruling BJP government in New Delhi and further downgrading of the former state into a Union Territory. This has been followed by a six-month long lockdown and communications shutdown and world’s longest internet shutdown, which, suddenly, disconnected people from each other and the outside world for months.

Since then the Indian State, under the current regime, has tightened its grip and sought to curb all forms of independent media, civil society engagements, and political voices across the spectrum, including the local media. This has virtually compelled them to either remain silent or toe the line of the ruling dispensation.

Draconian laws like the PSA and UAPA continue to be slapped against civil society activists and journalists and anyone who dares to raise his or her voice against the many injustices normalized in the Valley are hounded, punished and put into prison.

Predictably, the film is a brazen attempt to selectively exploit the tragedies of one community – the Kashmiri Pandits of Jammu and Kashmir. This community is shown as the only victim in the state, and the other community, the Kashmiri Muslims, is further demonized and projected as the perpetrators.

ALSO READ: ‘Kashmir Files Is A Farrago Of Disinformation’

The fact is that the film was openly promoted by the ruling party and even Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and, other BJP ministers and rightwing groups.  This was a clear message to the people of India to watch the film and thereby proves the political intent behind the making of this kind of biased cinema.

The Kashmir Files is a political project to further demonize Kashmiri Muslims and Indian Muslims at a time when they are already politically dispossessed and repressed by the State. Certainly, they are being attacked ritualistically, and are being treated as second class citizens. The assault on Muslims and their religious places during the auspicious occasion of Ram Navami, especially in certain BJP-ruled states, is a transparent pointer.

Contrary to the relentless hate politics and anti-Kashmiri propaganda by certain sections of Kashmiri Pandits in public forums and media, the besieged people in Kashmir, across all communities, Hindus and Muslims, are not consumed by so-called ‘anti-KP’ hatred. They are largely sympathetic to their condition and desire their return home without their pain being politically exploited and used by the rightwing political forces.

While growing up in Kashmir, I have never heard a single Kashmiri Muslim not fervently wanting the return of Kashmiri Pandits to their homes — however, not in separate, isolated and ghettos protected by security forces. This would only sharpen the divides and disconnects among both the communities and block all forms of meaningful individual and collective engagements. Over the years, the return of the KPs has been politicized and exploited by parties like the BJP to further their political agendas, instead of making genuine efforts for their welfare and rehabilitation. 

The film has intentionally fictionalized and exploited old, simmering wounds of the Pandits. The rightwing groups and parties have tried to further stoke anti-Muslim sentiments by invoking this film in their hate speeches to demonize and marginalize the Muslim community at large in India. Not surprisingly, the film has allegedly done good business at the box office, creating an easy template to replicate in future and a dangerous business and cinematic model of monetizing and marketing hate.

As told to Amit Sengupta