CM to BJP: How many Kashmiri Pandits relocated in eight yrs?
New Delhi: Accusing the BJP of doing politics over the issue of Kashmiri Pandits' exodus, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday asked how many of the displaced people have returned to the Valley
since the party came to power at the Centre.
As the war of words between Kejriwal and the BJP over 'The Kashmir Files' film intensified, the Aam Aadmi Party chief again suggested that the movie be put on YouTube and proceeds earned from it spent for the welfare of Kashmiri Pandits.
Replying to a query on his remarks on the film and the BJP's criticism, he told reporters, "In the last 25 years, since the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits, there have been BJP governments at the Centre for 13 years, including the last eight years. Has any Kashmiri Pandit family been rehabilitated in this period? Not a single family has returned to Kashmir."
Kejriwal said that concrete steps should be taken to ensure that Kashmir Pandits can return to their homes.
He said 'The Kashmir Files' has earned about Rs 200 crore and alleged that the BJP is "making money on someone's tragedy" through the film.
"This is a crime. The country will not tolerate this," the chief minister said.
The BJP is doing politics over the issue. We demand 'The Kashmir Files' film be uploaded on YouTube so that the entire country can understand the plight of Kashmiri Pandits. The money earned from it
should be spent on the welfare of Kashmiri Pandits," he said during the post-budget press conference.
The suggestion was first made by him on Thursday while speaking in the Delhi Assembly. Kejriwal had criticised the move of making the film tax-free, and suggested the filmmaker be put on YouTube for all to see free of cost.
He had also taken a swipe at BJP leaders for promoting the film.
The BJP had hit back, accusing him of mocking those who lost their lives to terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir.