From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Mar 23: Strongly condemning the Basavaraj Bommai-led BJP regime for preventing cinema theatre owners from screening ‘James’, the last Kannada film featuring Kannada matinee idol Dr Rajkumar’s son Puneeth Rajkumar, State Congress President DK Shivakumar on Wednesday that the State Government was free to promote ‘The Kashmir Files’ as much as it wants.

Speaking to media persons in Kalaburgi on Wednesday, the KPCC Chief said it was highly condemnable and deplorable that cinema theatres are being forced by ruling BJP legislators to withdraw the Puneeth Rajkumar-starrer ‘James’ as it would affect people from watching ‘The Kashmir Files’.

Shivakumar claimed that he has received telephone calls from several cinema theatres on the pressures mounted on them by BJP leaders and legislators to withdraw or cancel the shows of ‘James’ and termed it as an insult to the popular Kannada film star, who passed away recently at a very young age and earned enormous popularity all over Karnataka and even outside.

“Blocking the screening of Puneeth Rajkumar starrer ‘James’ is an insult to the Dr Rajkumar’s memory and his family and most shocking,’’ the KPCC Chief said and pointed out that the BJP leaders should have shown at least some respect and humanity, especially after the Chief Minister has announced the State’s highest Karnataka Ratna Award to Puneeth, popularly known as Appu.

“Let the BJP leaders promote ‘The Kashmir Files’ and even carry out publicity if it helps the ruling party electorally and claimed that the film has been tailor-made to suit the divisive agenda of the party,’’ he said and demanded that ‘James’ must be allowed to run as long as audience wants to see it.

Shivakumar said the ruling party has felicitated the makers of the ‘The Kashmir Files’ and even extended 100% exemption from Entertainment Tax.

The KPCC Chief said the ruling BJP and the State Government did everything to prevent the Mekedatu padayatra. The Chief Minister even personally telephoned Dr Rajkumar’s son Shiva Rajkumar against participating in the padayatra. “We are not worried about such things. Our fight to protect the State’s rights and interests of the people will continue,’’ he asserted.

Answering questions from reporters on preventing Muslim traders from eking out their livelihood during Jatras, the Congress leader said the BJP always uses divisive issues and creates disharmony or communal hatred among the people instead of working for the people.

“If Muslims cannot run trade during Jatras or in front of Hindu temples, does it mean that no other community can have petty shops in front of Mosques and Churches? What is happening and where are we heading? Just because some incidents have taken place somewhere, it is not correct to prevent people from earning their livelihood irrespective of their caste or religion,’’ he added.