“Censoring Kashmir Files Is Attack On Freedom”, says ex deputy PM of New Zealand
The censor board of the country, decided to review its decision after it was reached by some religious groups
New Delhi: In a fresh row regarding the highly controversial film ‘The Kashmir Files’, has been put on hold in New Zealand.
The censor board of the country, which had earlier approved the movie to be released in the theatres, decided to review its decision after it was reached by some religious groups.
The news report says, “The chief censor is reviewing the film’s classification after members of the Muslim community raised concerns over the content of the film”.
Previously, the censor board had allowed individuals of age 16 and above to watch the film.
However, After its decision to review the movie once more, its screening has been halted in cinema halls across the country.
Though, New Zealand’s former deputy prime minister Winston Peters has come out in the support of the film, calling it an attack on the freedom of New Zealanders.
Mr Peters wrote in a Facebook post, “To censor this film is tantamount to censoring information or images from the March 15th atrocities in New Zealand, or for that matter removing from public knowledge all images of the attack on 9/11”.
“Terrorism in all its forms, no matter what its source, should be exposed and opposed. This attempt at selective censorship would amount to one further attack on the freedom of New Zealanders and people worldwide”, he added.
Creator Vivek Rajan Agnihotri thanked him for the support on social media.
For the unversed, ‘The Kashmir Files’ is based on the exodus of the Valley’s Kashmiri Pandit community in the 1990s. The film was released on March 11 this year in the theatres.
The movie, which has been released in America, Australia and many other countries around the world stars Anupam Kher, Darshan Kumar, Mithun Chakraborty, and Pallavi Joshi among others.