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Congress CWC meeting: 5 senior members and Manmohan Singh absent; party workers protest against G-23 leaders outside AICC headquarters

OpIndia Staff
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Congress CWC meeting: 5 senior members and Manmohan Singh absent; party workers protest against G-23 leaders outside AICC headquarters

The much-talked-about meeting of the Congress working committee began at around 4 PM on 13th March 2022 in New Delhi. While 5 senior members of the party and the former prime minister Manmohan Singh were absent in this CWC meeting, party workers were seen protesting against the G-23 leaders and in support of Gandhi family members outside the AICC headquarters when the meeting was going on.

The CWC meeting had been called by the party’s interim president Sonia Gandhi to discuss the causes and effects of the recent decimation of the party in the assembly elections of five states. Congress not only failed to retain the state of Punjab but also saw a sharp decline in its number of seats in the other states.

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and 5 other senior members of the party were absent in this meeting. According to a report by the Republic World, ex-defence minister AK Antony, MP A Chella Kumar, former Manipur Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam, Tariq Hameed Karra, and G Sanjeeva Reddy did not attend this meeting. while Antony has missed the meeting after testing positive for COVID-19, the reasons behind other leaders missing the CWC meeting have not yet been specified.

A day before this meeting, NDTV had reported that all the members of the Gandhi family that is Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and Rahul Gandhi will resign from their posts in this CWC meeting. However, the party had denied this. Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala had slammed NDTV for spreading fake news. Amidst these speculations, party workers protested against the G-23 leaders and in support of Gandhi family members outside the AICC headquarters on 13th March 2022 before the CWC meeting started.

Earlier today, the Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot had said that Rahul Gandhi must head the party. He said, “Rahul Gandhi must become head of the Congress party. No one from the Gandhi family has become PM for close to 30 years now. The Gandhi family is important to strengthen Congress.”

Decimation of Congress in recent assembly elections

The Congress party’s performance in the recent assembly elections has been disastrous. In Uttar Pradesh, it has managed to win just 2 seats. Having taken charge of a drowning Congress in Uttar Pradesh, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has firmly sunk the party. Congress’ family bastions Amethi and Rae Bareli, where the party had some hope of attracting votes in the name of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty, have also completely slipped out of the Gandhi family’s hands under her leadership. The party drew a big fat zero in both Amethi and Rae Bareli in the 2022 UP Assembly elections.

Likewise in other states, Congress has lost Punjab where it was in power for the last term. In the 117-seat assembly, Congress has got just 18. Congress has also lost in Manipur, a 60-seat assembly, where it has been reduced from 23 to 5. In Goa, Congress has secured 12 seats out of 40, while in Uttarakhand, it got 19 out of 70 seats.

Congress mouthpiece National Herald hails Priyanka Gandhi for reducing Congress to 2.33 percent vote share in Uttar Pradesh

OpIndia Staff
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Congress mouthpiece National Herald hails Priyanka Gandhi for reducing Congress to 2.33 percent vote share in Uttar Pradesh

Alleged newspaper and Congress mouthpiece, National Herald, has declared Priyanka Gandhi as the big winner of the recently concluded Uttar Pradesh elections. In an article praising Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to the skies, National Herald claimed that Priyanka really charmed Uttar Pradesh during her campaign. She charmed them so much that nobody actually turned up to vote for Congress.

For those living under a rock, Congress secured 2 seats and 2.33% vote share in Uttar Pradesh in 2022. Nobody believed that Congress can sink any further in the state after their 2017 showing when they won 7 seats and 6.25% votes, but Priyanka showed that she can achieve the impossible.

While the rest of the country can see what a disaster Priyanka has been as UP in-charge for Congress, losing even family bastions of Amethi and Rae Bareli comprehensively, National Herald begs to differ. As per them, Priyanka outshone everybody on the campaign trail, including the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and the man UP voted for, Yogi Adityanath.

It should be noted that Congress was around 12% votes in UP in 2012 elections, while BJP was at 15%. In the 10 years that followed, BJP has moved from 15% to 45% while Congress, led by the brother-sister Gandhi duo, has slipped from 12% to 2%. While this would be a cause of serious concern for normal Congress supporters, National Herald is portraying this as a big win.

The comical piece goes on to add how Priyanka Gandhi Vadra taught a lesson in humility to Narendra Modi and forced him to change his campaign. It even goes on to say that Modi had met his match in Priyanka, because Congress won 2 seats in a state election where BJP won 255.

We have become used to annual Rahul Gandhi has arrived covers from magazines like India Today after every Congress loss overseen by him. Now it looks like we have to get used to Priyanka has arrived articles from National Herald after every loss under her leadership.

If Congress was a corporate body, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra would have been fired from the job immediately after the results. However, since it is a family owned business, Priyanka is likely to get a bigger role on National level for sinking her party in UP.

Netizens raise alarm after Twitter user claims Uber in Jammu shows Pakistani currency

OpIndia Staff
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Netizens raise alarm after Twitter user claims Uber in Jammu shows Pakistani currency

On Sunday (March 13), ride hailing service Uber courted controversy after a Twitter user accused the app of displaying currency in Pakistani rupees (PKR) within the Indian territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

The user, identified as one Koushal Raina (@ALkohliC), wrote, “PKR currency in wallet balance in Jammu, J&K, India???” He had also shared a screenshot wherein ‘Uber Cash’ was displayed in Pakistani rupees under the section of ‘personal’ payment options.

Screengrab of the tweet by Koushal Raina

In another tweet, the user pointed out that the ride-sharing app does not operate in Jammu and Kashmir, and the amount was shown for a ride in Delhi. “I was booking cab for someone in Delhi when I saw this,” Koushal Raina added.

Screengrab of the tweet by Koushal Raina

Netizens raise alarm over display of PKR in Indian territory by Uber

Social media users were miffed at the representation of currency in Pakistani rupees by Uber within the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. A Twitter user cautioned the ride-sharing app to make amends or be ready to face financial loss in business operations in the rest of the country.

Screengrab of the tweet

“Shame on you, Uber. J&K is an integral part of India. Why are you doing this kind of activity? #BoycottUber. Let’s make this issue viral,” wrote another user.

Screengrab of the tweet

Another user warned, “Will start to boycott Uber if they don’t give a written explanation.”

Screengrab of the tweet

One Twitter user alleged that it was the work of the ‘usual suspects’. “Uber Support, what the hell is going on? Vivek Agnihotri, ecosystem at play again,” he wrote.

Screengrab of the tweet

One Rijul sarcastically remarked whether Koushal Raina might have downloaded the Pakistani version of the ‘Uber’ app.

Screengrab of the tweet

A user named Prakshit claimed that it might be a technical glitch. “Probably some GeoIP issue I think. If you set a higher range on Tinder in Jammu, it also shows you profiles from Pakistan,” he tweeted.

Screengrab of the tweet

Twitter user provides clarification, Uber responds with a computer-generated message

OpIndia tried to test whether the ride-sharing app displayed ‘Uber cash’ in PKR while booking a cab to/from Jammu. We found that the currency for ‘Uber cash’ was in Indian rupees (INR).

Screengrab of the Uber app while booking ride to/from Jammu

Meanwhile, Twitter user Koushal Raina has responded to the controversy. He said, “Some people are seeing INR, some PKR. Probably geolocation issue. Still needs to be fixed though.”

Screengrab of the tweet by Koushal Raina

The ride-sharing app has not commented on the matter. It has so far responded with a generic, automated message. “Hey Koushal, we would like to look into this for you. Could you please share your registered contact details via Direct Message?” the tweet read.

Screengrab of the generic tweet by Uber India support

As of now, it remains unclear whether it was a technical glitch or a deliberate act on the part of Uber.

Days after AAP wins in Punjab, around 100 party workers in Gujarat leave the party alleging high-handedness of leadership

OpIndia Staff
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Days after AAP wins in Punjab, around 100 party workers in Gujarat leave the party alleging high-handedness of leadership

Days after the Aam Aadmi Party won in the Punjab assembly elections, hundreds of the party members in Gujarat are leaving the party. A group of about 150 party members from the Anand district in Gujarat has resigned from the primary membership of the party on Saturday 12th March 2022.

These members have alleged the state-level party leadership of high-handedness. According to a report by the Times of India, they have also threatened that they will now appeal to all the AAP members in the state to leave the party. Interestingly, the resignation letters of all these members are addressed to the AAP president Arvind Kejriwal.

Ravi Patel, the state-level head of the farmers’ wing of the party in Gujarat, has said, “Six months ago, when we resigned from our posts en masse, we had urged the party leadership to intervene. However, since the party leadership has not taken any steps in that direction, we are submitting our resignations from the primary membership of the party.”

Ravi Patel further said that the Gujarat state leadership of the Aam Aadmi Party had dissolved the farmers’ wing without taking the local unit into confidence. Patel also alleged that the party leadership has misbehaved with Dipavali Upadhyaya, the head of the Anand district unit of the party.

Talking about his next plans, Ravi Patel said, “We will run a campaign for another 12 months urging all those who have joined AAP to resign from the party’s primary membership as the state unit is not taking local units into confidence. We will be exposing all the misdeeds of those leaders who are at the helm of the state unit.”

It is notable that after Delhi, Punjab has become the second state where AAP is going to make its government. AAP is eyeing Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh in order to become a pan-India substitute to the Congress party. Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh assemblies complete their five-year tenure in December 2022. Efforts were also made in Goa where the self-proclaimed clean party with a self-proclaimed cute leader has managed to win 2 seats. But, AAP is not even able to retain its existing members who are leaving the party in large numbers at a time. Earlier, many corporators of AAP in the Surat Municipal Corporation have left the party and joined the BJP.

American journalist Brent Renaud shot dead in Ukraine, here is what we know

OpIndia Staff
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American journalist Brent Renaud shot dead in Ukraine, here is what we know

Brent Renaud, an American video journalist covering the Ukraine war, has been confirmed dead by the head of Kyiv police department. As per the police, Russian troops opened fire on a car with foreign journalists inside, and shot dead 51 yrs old Renaud in Irpin, around 40 KMs North-West of capital Kyiv.

Head of Kyiv Police department, Andriy Nebytov said ,”A 51-year-old world-renowned media correspondent was shot in Irpen today,”

“Another journalist is injured. Now they are trying to remove the victim from the war zone. Of course, the profession of a journalist is a risk, but US citizen Brent Renaud paid his life for trying to highlight the aggressor’s ingenuity, cruelty and ruthlessness”, he added.

In the immediate aftermath of his death, there were reports that he was covering the war for New York Times. However, they have issued a statement denying it. Even though he had previously contributed to The New York Times, he was not covering Ukraine war for them. The confusion occurred because he was carrying his old New York Times card.

Brent Renaud was a Peabody and DuPont Award winning filmmaker, and used to produce films and television programs with his brother Craig Renaud from various regions around the world. He had reported from various conflict regions, including Iraq, Afghanistan, Haiti, Mexico and Egypt.

Reporting from conflict zones has always been a risky assignment for the journalists. Indian photojournalist Danish Siddiqui, who was working for Reuters at the time, was shot dead by Taliban last year while reporting on the conflict in Afghanistan.

Bareilly: Coaching centre operator Azhar alias Aurangazeb molests student, gets dragged to police station by girl’s family

OpIndia Staff
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Bareilly: Coaching centre operator Azhar alias Aurangazeb molests student, gets dragged to police station by girl’s family

A coaching center operator named Azhar alias Aurangzeb was arrested in the Faridpur police station of Bareilly on 13th March 2022 for molesting one of his students. The family members of the girl beat him up, and dragged him to the police station. A video of the incident has appeared on Twitter.

Accused Azahar alias Aurangzeb runs a coaching center in Faridpur town of the Bareilly district of Uttar Pradesh. He has been accused of molesting one of his female students there. As the family members of the girl came to know about this horrifying incident, they reached the coaching center and took him to the police station. A video of this incident has appeared on Twitter in which the accused is being dragged by the family members towards the police station.

Bharat Ek Soch News tweeted the video saying, “A teacher turned beast, thrashed for his indecent behavior act with his student. Paraded on the streets up to the Faridpur police station and beaten throughout the walk. Video of this street parade has gone viral on social media. He used to molest an Inter student.”

The official Twitter handle of the zonal ADG of the Bareilly Police took cognizance of the crime, and instructed the Bareilly police to see the matter. ADG Bareilly police tweeted, “Bareilly police, kindly take a look.”

Responding to this, the Bareilly police have shared from their Twitter handle the updates on the action taken in this matter. Their official Twitter handle posted, “A case has been registered at Police Station Faridpur, Bareilly. The accused has been arrested and sent to jail and the critical proceedings are going on.”

Faridpur is a town in the Bareilly district of Uttar Pradesh.

Madhya Pradesh govt declares ‘The Kashmir Files’ tax-free, BJP leaders book theatres for free shows of the movie

OpIndia Staff
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Madhya Pradesh govt declares ‘The Kashmir Files’ tax-free, BJP leaders book theatres for free shows of the movie

Madhya Pradesh has joined Haryana and Gujarat as the third state to declare the movie The Kashmir Files as tax-free. Third da into its release, the movie has become a blockbuster hit, and theatres across the country as reporting that their shows are fully booked.

The tax-free status will reduce the price of tickets for the movie, as the states are waiving the entertainment GST applicable for it. The current GST rate on entertainment is 18%, and when the state GST is subtracted from ticket prices, they would drop by 9%.

Alongside this, several Bharatiya Janata Party leaders have joined to booked theatres for people to come and watch the movie. The movie has received an overwhelming response from the public. Despite only having a limited release in India, Vivek Agnihotri’s The Kashmir Files has become a smashing success.

Umesh Sharma, a BJP Spokesperson in Indore, reserved one full theatre to show The Kashmir Files to the public. People holding saffron flags and shouting patriotic slogans gathered to see the film. A Twitter user shared a video writing, “Video is supposed to be from Indore, MP. people are going to watch The Kashmir Files with chanting Jai Shree Ram.”

A significant number of people came and joined in Indore on Friday to see the film The Kashmir Files, which was released on 11 March. Umesh Sharma had booked the entire theatre for them. A big crowd gathered at the Regal Tiraha with saffron flags in their hands, then marched towards the Inox Theatre in the Central Mall, chanting nationalistic slogans.

The Congress Party has protested to the BJP holding such an event to screen the film. Rakesh Singh Yadav, state secretary of the Congress, stated that the BJP is overjoyed with its victories in four states. Through the film, they hope to foster religious fervour, he alleged.

Another user on Twitter mentioned that a BJP MLA from Vijaypur, Bsavangowda Patil has announced free shows of the film for 10 days in his constituency. He wrote on Twitter, “BJP MLA from Vijaypur Bsavangowda Patil announces 10 days free show of The Kashmir Files in his constituency. We need more such Leaders”

The Kashmir Files is a movie directed by Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri. It is based on the genocide of Kashmiri Hindus and documents some real stories when in 1990, turmoil in Kashmir erupted as a result of rising Islamic Jihad, forcing the great majority of Hindus to flee the valley. Performers such as Anupam Kher, Mithun Chakraborty, and Pallavi Joshi play pivotal roles.

People from all across the world have shown their support for the film. People from many walks of life have come out to offer their support for the film and have pushed others to see it so that they, too, may learn the heretofore unrecognized truth.

Vivek Agnihotri, director of The Kashmir Files, recently spoke with OpIndia CEO Rahul Raushan about the film’s production, the challenges his team faced, and how he assured the film’s theatrical run. In addition to states making the movie tax-free and political leaders joining in, numerous social media users have offered to fund movie tickets so that more people can see the film.

Bengali actress Rupa Dutta arrested for pickpocketing, had earlier mocked Mamata Banerjee after TMC didn’t win single seat in Goa

OpIndia Staff
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Bengali actress Rupa Dutta arrested for pickpocketing, had earlier mocked Mamata Banerjee after TMC didn’t win single seat in Goa

On Saturday (March 12), popular Bengali actress Rupa Dutta was arrested for pickpocketing during the 45th International Kolkata Book Fair. She has starred in the Hindi movie ‘Saathi‘ and worked in the Bengali film industry.

As per a report in Asianet News Bangla, she was apprehended while trying to evade after dumping a money bag in a dustbin. Her act raised suspicions in the minds of the police officials deployed at the Book Fair.

On being asked about the bag, the actress failed to provide a convincing reply. The cops then escorted her to the Bidhannagar North police station.

During interrogation, the actress broke down into tears. A probe has been initiated into the matter.

On Sunday (March 13), Zee24 Ghanta journalist Piyali Mitra informed that multiple purses and an amount of ₹65,760 were seized by the police.

“According to police sources, she failed to produce any reason for having many purses with her. She will be produced before the BDN court today,” tweeted Mitra.

Dutta had on Friday mocked Mamata Banerjee after TMC could not win a single seat in the recently concluded Goa elections.

Reportedly, she had earlier accused director Anurag Kashyap of sexual harassment.

“There is no respect for any woman in the eyes of Anurag Kashyap. Which I came to know after knowing him. That’s why Payel Ghosh’s allegation is absolutely correct. Anurag Kashyap should get the harshest punishment. And he also takes drugs. Also supplies artist NCB please investigate,” she had tweeted. However, the allegations against Kashyap were incorrect as she mistook some other Anurag for the filmmaker.

Assam: Man kills 5-year-old kid playing in his compound, angry mob burns him to death

OpIndia Staff
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Assam: Man kills 5-year-old kid playing in his compound, angry mob burns him to death

On Saturday, a man was lynched to death by a mob after he reportedly killed a 5-year-old kid in Assam. A mob of enraged tea garden workers burned a mentally unstable man to death after he killed a kid at Dholajan Tea Estate in upper Assam’s Dibrugarh district’s Rohmoria police outpost.

The kid, Ujjal Mura, was playing with other kids in the compound of Sunit Tanti, who was said to be mentally unstable by neighbours. Suddenly, Sunit Tanti killed Ujjal Mura by slitting his neck with a knife. After that, locals apprehended Tanti and set him on fire after hearing about the incident. While he had tried to flee after killing the kid, the locals chased him for half a kilometer, caught him, and beaten him. After that, they set him on fire.

“The minor boy, along with other small kids, was playing in the compound of Sunit on Saturday. Suddenly, he became angry and killed the boy by slitting his throat. We have sent both the bodies for post-mortem,” Shwetank Mishra, the superintendent of police of Dibrugarh, stated. “The situation was under control. The person was mentally unstable. We have started our investigation,” he further said.

According to Mishra, police have launched an investigation into the incident, but no arrests have been made as of now. The situation in the area is now under control.

In a recent instance from the northeastern region, a 40-year-old woman allegedly killed her husband in his sleep around 2 am with a takkal, a native Tripuri machete weapon. The lady was apprehended at her home in Indira Colony in Tripura’s Kowai district for beheading her 50-year-old husband.

Tickets for 480 shows sold out in seven major cities, over 550 shows will be house-full soon: ‘The Kashmir Files’ becomes a blockbuster hit

OpIndia Staff
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Tickets for 480 shows sold out in seven major cities, over 550 shows will be house-full soon: ‘The Kashmir Files’ becomes a blockbuster hit

Despite releasing on a limited screen across India, The Kashmir Files by Vivek Agnihotri has become a blockbuster hit within just two days of its release. The Kashmir Files, which brings the brutally honest account of the Kashmiri Pandit genocide to the big screen, has received an unprecedented response from the audience.

Tickets to more than 480 shows across seven major cities – Bengaluru, Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai, Ahmedabad and Pune, are sold out, making it hard for the audience to easily get tickets for the movie. Thousands are marching towards the film theatres to watch the heart-wrenching story of the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits, directed by national-award-winning director Vivek Agnihotri.

In addition, more than 500 shows scheduled on Sunday evenings and late-night shows are fast-filling in major cities, indicating that the movie has become the biggest craze in the box office in recent times.

In Bengaluru, till noon 02:00 PM on Sunday, more than 50 shows were housefull, and at least 80 evening and late-night shows were fast-filling. Tickets to The Kashmir Files are available only for the late-night shows.

The Kashmir Files in Bengaluru theatres/ Image Source: Bookmyshow.com/ Black indicates: Housefull, Orange: Fast-filling and Green: Available

Similarly, in Mumbai, the Vivek Agnihotri-directed movie is a blockbuster hit. The fans are struggling to find tickets to watch the film based on true events in Kashmir in 1990. Tickets for more than 100 shows are sold out, while another 150 shows in the city will achieve full house before the screening.

The Kashmir Files in Mumbai theatres/ Image Source: Bookmyshow.com/ Black indicates: Housefull, Orange: Fast-filling and Green: Available

The story is the same in the national capital. Over 100 shows are full, and at least 150 other shows will be full before the screening in the National Capital Region, according to ticket-booking site Bookmyshow.com.

The Kashmir Files in NCR theatres/ Image Source: Bookmyshow.com/ Black indicates: Housefull, Orange: Fast-filling and Green: Available

In the southern city of Hyderabad, 40 shows are Housefull, and another 20 shows are fast-filling. The language barrier in the southern states is not stopping the people from watching the movie that has inspired and touched millions of hearts and audiences.

The Kashmir Files in Hyderabad theatres/ Image Source: Bookmyshow.com/ Black indicates: Housefull, Orange: Fast-filling and Green: Available

In Tamil-speaking Chennai, too, the Hindi movie is a super hit. Movie-goers are struggling to get tickets for the Kashmir Files as there is an increasing demand for the tickets. Sources in Chennai, people are buying tickets in the black market to witness the historic movie that narrates the story of the genocide of Kashmiri Pandits.

At least 15 shows screening in Chennai multiplexes are housefull, while another ten will be full in the next few hours.

The Kashmir Files in Chennai theatres/ Image Source: Bookmyshow.com/ Black indicates: Housefull, Orange: Fast-filling and Green: Available

In Maharashtra’s Pune, the craze for the movie is even strong. More than 45 shows till noon are housefull, and another 60 shows in various theatres will be housefull before the show starts.

The Kashmir Files in Pune theatres/ Image Source: Bookmyshow.com/ Black indicates: Housefull, Orange: Fast-filling and Green: Available

In Ahmedabad, 35 shows went sold out, while tickets to another 50 shows in the evening are in high demand.

The Kashmir Files in Ahmedabad theatres/ Image Source: Bookmyshow.com/ Black indicates: Housefull, Orange: Fast-filling and Green: Available

Overall, the movie has received an enormous response, not just from the common audience but also from the movie critics and critically-acclaimed filmmakers. The box office registered 139.44% growth and is considered as the highest ever growth in the Bollywood industry in two days since 2020. The current total of the movie stands at Rs 12.05 crore.

The success of the movie is unprecedented, because it is not a typical Bollywood movie that becomes becomes blockbuster. Moreover, as box office analyst Taran Adarsh pointed out, the movie had faced several odds. The movie had limited promotions compared to major releases from Bollywood and southern states, it was not released during holidays, and it was released on limited number of screens. The film also had competition form big budget movie Radhe Shyam by Prabhas. Despite so many odds, the movie has become a blockbuster, while Radhe Shyam has been declared flop. Consequently, The Kashmir Files is now being shown on more screens, and Adarsh informed that the screens showing the movie increased to 2000 on Sunday from 630 on opening Friday.

‘The Kashmir Files’ film is based on the genocide of the Kashmiri Hindus by the fanatic Islamists in Kashmir in 1990 and the exodus of Kashmiri Hindus following that. The film stars Anupam Kher, Mithun Chakraborty, Pallavi Joshi, Darshan Kumar, Chinmay Mandlekar, and Mrinal Kulkarni are in lead roles.

The film was opposed by many Islamists before its release. A petition was also filed in the Bombay high court after the trailer of the film was published on YouTube. The petition sought a ban on the release of the film, citing that it could potentially hurt the sentiments of the Muslims in the country.

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