'The Kashmir Files' director Vivek Agnihotri gets Y category security
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Friday decided to grant the Y category security cover to The Kashmir Files director Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri with pan-India CRPF cover, ANI reported. This reportedly came after the Intelligence Bureau and other security agencies found Agnihotri's life could be under threat. The film—which triggered a political controversy—revolves around the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the Kashmir Valley.
Why does this story matter?
Agnihotri's film—which emerged as a box-office hit—received overwhelming support from the government and tax breaks from many states. However, it also came under bitter criticism—especially from the Opposition parties and a section of people who accused the film of inciting hatred and the government of indulging in "propaganda." The film also led to violent sloganeering targeting a certain community at several theaters, NDTV reported.
What does Y category security mean?
Under the Y category security, Agnihotri will now have a security cover of eight personnel, including one or two commandos apart from police personnel. Currently, the CRPF provides armed security to 117 protectees of different categories, such as Z+, Z, Y+, Y, and Z, in the country. In 2020, actor Kangana Ranaut became the first Bollywood celebrity to get protection from the CRPF.
Agnihotri earlier deactivated Twitter account after receiving threats
Reportedly, Agnihotri had received "ugly threats" in connection with The Kashmir Files even before the film was released following which he had to deactivate his Twitter account, too. In fact, a fatwa was also issued against Agnihotri and his wife, actor Pallavi Joshi who is also a part of the film, on the last day of their movie's shooting in Kashmir, reported News18.
Film declared as tax-free in many states
Interestingly, The Kashmir Files was made tax-free in most BJP-ruled states, including Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Tripura, Goa, Haryana, and Gujarat. Recently, PM Narendra Modi also met with Agnihotri, Joshi, and the film's co-producer Abhishek Agarwal and hailed their venture. Separately, at BJP's parliamentary party meeting on Tuesday, Modi defended Agnihotri and his film saying, "The truth should come to light in the right way."
Take a look at what PM Modi said
Film successfully running in theaters
The Kashmir Files, which was released on March 11, stars Anupam Kher, Darshan Kumaar, Mithun Chakraborty, and Joshi, among others, in pivotal roles. Many have been hailing the film for bringing out the truth about the "genocide" of Kashmiri Pandits in the early 1990s. It has collected Rs. 106.8 crore worldwide in seven days, revealed a post by the film's official Twitter account.
