Singapore bans The Kashmir Files; here’s why
The Singaporean authorities refused classification of the Hindi-language film for “its provocative and one-sided portrayal of Muslims
Singapore has banned controversial Bollywood film The Kashmir Files. The film is based on the exodus of Hindus from Muslim-majority Kashmir.
Singapore has banned the film citing concerns over its “potential to cause enmity between different communities”. It assessed the film to be “beyond” the city-state’s film classification guidelines. According to the report of Hindustan Times, the Singaporean authorities refused classification of the Hindi-language film for “its provocative and one-sided portrayal of Muslims and the depictions of Hindus being persecuted in the on-going conflict in Kashmir”.
Issuing a joint statement, the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) of Singapore have asserted that the film’s representations “have the potential to cause enmity between different communities, and disrupt social cohesion and religious harmony in our multiracial and multi-religious society.”
“Any material that is denigrating to racial or religious communities in Singapore” will be refused classification under the film classification guidelines of Singapore, they said.
Lauded by the ruling camp in India, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah, the film has been declared tax-free in most of the BJP-ruled states.
