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MP CM accepts Agnihotri’s suggestion, to help set up ‘genocide museum’ in state

By Pervez Bari

BHOPAL – A “genocide museum” will come up in Madhya Pradesh after Vivek Agnihotri, the Director of the controversial film “The Kashmir Files” suggested to the state Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan who readily accepted the proposal.

Agnihotri made the suggestion after planting saplings, along with the chief minister and some Kashmiri Pandits, at the Smart City Park in Bhopal.

Some local Kashmiri Pandits, who were also present there, demanded that a ‘cultural centre’ of the community be set up in the city. Agnihotri said that the centre can form a part of the museum.

Agnihotri praised Chouhan describing him as “the only person in the world” who plants a sapling a day. He also thanked the chief minister for making the film tax free.

At Agnihotri’ request, two saplings were named ‘Shiv’ and ‘Sharada’ after the names of characters of the film. At Chouhan’s request, the third was named after the Jan Sangh founder Shyama Prasad Mukherjee.

Digvijaya Singh opposes ‘genocide museum’

Meanwhile, Congress Rajya Sabha member Digvijaya Singh has opposed setting up of a “genocide museum”’ for which Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has promised land to ‘The Kashmir Files’ director Vivek Agnihotri, saying the communal harmony of Bhopal cannot be disturbed.

“I am totally against setting up a genocide museum in Bhopal. Will not let the communal harmony of Bhopal get disturbed, I oppose it,” Singh, Digvijay, tweeted on Saturday morning.

‘Bhopali is now synonymous with Vivek Agnihotri’, the director of The Kashmir Files, claiming that his statement equating Bhopalis with homosexuals was ‘quoted out of context’.

Interacting with media persons at Makhanlal Chaturvedi National University of Journalism and Communication (MCNUJC), in the city, Agnihotri said that his memories of Bhopal are of a “poor city where tongas plied on roads”.

He also alleged that his statements were being distorted as he had brought the ‘truth of Kashmir’ before the world. Terrorism has become a business in that state, he remarked.

He urged the people to visit his social media pages, where, he said, he praises Bhopal ‘day and night’ as the ‘most beautiful city in the world’ where ‘the yummiest poha’ is available.

Bhopalis are homosexual, says Agnihotri

Meanwhile, it may be pointed out here that just before his visit to Bhopal, a video of the Director of The Kashmir Files, Vivek Agnihotri has gone viral on social media in which he is heard saying that Bhopalis (people from Bhopal) are homosexual.

Agnihotri could be heard saying in the interview that he was not a Bhopali. “I have grown up in Bhopal but I am not a Bhopali because being a Bhopali has a different connotation,” said Agnihotri.

“You ask a Bhopali. You meet me in private and I will explain. In general terms they can be called homosexual. ‘Nawabi Shauq’ wala Vyakti,” said director of the movie, Agnihotri.

Bhopal people raise objections

Replying to the viral video, Digvijay Singh tweeted that Vivek Agnihotri Ji this must be your personal experience but not of any common Bhopali. “I am also in contact of Bhopal and Bhopalis since 77 but never experienced it. ‘Company matters’,” wrote Digvijay Singh.

Condemning Agnihotri’s comment, another twitter account holder Syed Anas Ali said it was insult to Barkatullah Bhopali and former president of India Shankar Dayal Sharma who have tremendous contribution in freedom struggle.

“I am sure people sitting in government will condemn it as several leaders from the BJP like Babulal Gaur and Pandit Uadhavdas Mehta ji were pure Bhopalis. Former Mayor Alok Sharma also calls himself a proud Bhopali,” wrote Anas Ali.

Meanwhile, in reply to a query about BJP leaders from the Prime Minister downwards promoting his film, Agnihotri said that Mahatma Gandhi had also urged the people to watch a film called ‘Ram Rajya’, Nehru had patronised the song ‘Ae mere watan ke logon’, and that the first Prime Minister wanted Majrooh Sultanpuri jailed for criticising him.

About IAS officer Niyaz Khan’s invitation to him for a discussion on the film, Agnihotri said that he had not sought any appointment with the officer.

When asked whether he would donate the income from the film for the welfare of the Kashmiri Pandits, he said that ‘this is all politics. Let us ignore it.’

On being asked about his next movie, Agnihotri said he is making ‘The Delhi Files’ or ‘Bharat Files’.

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