BJP workers on Wednesday clashed with the police outside Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence during a protest against Mr Kejriwal's remarks on the recently released controversial movie 'The Kashmir Files'. The ruling party's leaders have accused Mr Kejriwal of mocking the "genocide" of Kashmiri Hindus shown in the film. Addressing the media shortly after the attack, Senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia made sensational claims, saying the BJP wants to "kill" Mr Kejriwal because they are unable to defeat him electorally. He added that politics is just an excuse and this is a clear criminal case.
"Today, BJP's goons reached Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's house in the presence of the police. They aren't able to defeat him in elections so they want to kill him," he said.
Several senior Aam Aadmi Party leaders have accused the Delhi police of facilitating vandalism and violence by allowing BJP leaders and workers to reach the Chief Minister's house.
Visuals from the spot show a large group of people carrying BJP flags and placards condemning "insult" to Kashmiri Pandits clashing with the police at the barricade placed outside the Chief Minister's residence. Many of them can be seen attempting to jump through the security cordon.
Koo AppBJP's frustration over the crushing defeat in Punjab at the hands of the Aam Aadmi Party is clear now. The attack on the house of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the presence of police is a very cowardly act. It is now clear that the BJP fears only AAP and Arvind Kejriwal.- Bhagwant Mann (@bhagwantmann) 30 Mar 2022
Deputy Chief Minister Mr Sisodia said on Twitter that "antisocial" elements smashed CCTV cameras and the security barriers at Mr Kejriwal's house. They also broke the boom barriers at the entrance, he added. In another tweet, he claimed the perpetrators were "BJP goons" who the Delhi police helped.
The police have said that around 150-200 protestors of BJP Yuva Morcha reached the CM's residence around 11:30 in the morning to protest against his remarks on 'The Kashmir Files' in the Delhi assembly. The police claim that they "immediately" removed them from the spot and detained around 70 people. Legal action is being initiated, they said.
"At around 1 pm, some of the protestors breached two barricades and reached outside CM House where they created ruckus, shouted slogans etc. They were carrying a small box of paint from which they threw paint outside the door. In the imbroglio, a boom barrier arm is also found vandalised as also a CCTV camera," a release from the police said.
Responding to Delhi BJP legislators' demand to declare the movie "The Kashmir Files" tax-free in the national capital, Arvind Kejriwal had quipped that it should be put up on the free video sharing platform YouTube.
"They are saying make The Kashmir Files tax-free. Well, put it on YouTube it will be free," said Mr Kejriwal amid laughter and thumping of desks by Delhi assembly members.
"Why are you asking us to make it tax-free. If you are so keen, ask Vivek Agnihotri to put it on YouTube, it will all be free. Everyone will be able to see it in a day. Where is the need to make it tax-free," he added.
The feature film, which has received unprecedented government backing including high praise from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is based on the exodus of Kashmiri Hindus from the Kashmir valley during the height of militancy.
Riding on overwhelming government support and tax breaks from BJP-ruled states across the country, the controversial movie has become a runaway box office success and is racing to Rs 300 crore in collections. It has also come under bitter criticism as it's unprecedented for the government to put its weight behind a commercial movie. Moreover, the sensitive political nature of the film and charges of inaccuracy/deliberate misrepresentation of facts has led to accusations of the government indulging in propaganda.
The Centre has provided 'Y' category security cover to director Vivek Agnihotri with CRPF cover pan India.
The movie, which had released in theatres on March 11, stars Anupam Kher, Mithun Chakraborty, Pallavi Joshi, Darshan Kumaar, and others.
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