NEW DELHI; The row between the AAP and the BJP over "The Kashmir Files" movie intensified on Monday, with Deputy Chief Minister hitting out at the opposition party accusing it of "selling the pain" of Kashmiri Pandits for Rs 200 crore.
Sisodia also claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is concerned about "The Kashmir Files", while the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has concerns for the plight of the Kashmiri Pandits.
Participating in a debate in the ongoing session of the Delhi Assembly, Sisodia demanded that Rs 200 crore earned by the movie should be used for the welfare of the displaced Kashmiri Pandits and rebuilding their homes.
He also said that the movie should be uploaded on the YouTube for everyone to watch.
Sisodia said he will try to watch the film after the budget session.
In his address, he also said this "huge amount" should be either put into a new welfare foundation or existing foundations working for the Kashmiri Pandit community.
"I have not been able to watch the film, as I was busy with the (Delhi) budget, so I cannot comment on the quality of the film.
But, it's fine that a film has been made on the suffering of the Kashmiri Pandit community, and it should be seen by everyone.
But, their pain should be felt by other people, and not that their pain be sold in crores," Sisodia said.
BJP MLA Vijender Gupta tried to table a censure motion against Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for allegedly terming the movie a lie, but the Speaker disallowed it.
"After causing the damage, CM Kejriwal has gone on a spree to appear as a well-wisher of Kashmiri Pandits. He is touting that 200 Kashmiri Hindu teachers were regularised by his government while hiding the fact that he was directed to do so by the High Court," Gupta claimed.
Sisodia told reporters on the Assembly premises that the Kejriwal government regularised teacher jobs for 233 Kashmiri Pandits living in Delhi and arranged their pensions.
It also provided Rs 3,000 monthly to Kashmiri Pandit families living in Delhi, the senior AAP leader said.
But, the BJP leaders are just "crying about" the film, he added.
"Arvind Kejriwal has worked to alleviate the pain of Kashmiri Pandits. The BJP has sold that pain in Rs 200 crore which is wrong," Sisodia charged further.
"The Kashmiri Pandits living across the country want to go back to Kashmir where they have their homes. What did the BJP do to help them go back to Kashmir, despite being in power for eight years. The BJP government has failed in it and they should accept it," he said.
Earlier, Speaking in the House, Sisodia said the Rs 200 crore (earned from the film) should be used for the welfare of the Kashmiri Pandits who had to leave their home and hearth in 1989-1990.
"In fact, a new foundation in their name should be made and that money (earned from the film) should be offered to it.
Or, many such foundations already exist, so a little more money ('chanda') should be added to it, and given to them, so that this money can be used to rebuild their burnt homes, rejuvenate their faded orchards," Sisodia said in an emotive address in the Assembly.
"The BJP is demanding "The Kashmir Files" to be declared tax-free. Even if it is tax-free, only Rs 9 will be waived on a ticket. Then, why not upload it on YouTube so everyone can watch it," he said.
The film, directed by Vivek Agnihotri and starring Anupam Kher and other veteran actors, has triggered a raging debate on the Kashmiri Pandit's issues, and grossed over Rs 200 crore at the box office.
Recently, Chief Minister Kejriwal had said in the Assembly that the film should be put on YouTube for free so that everyone could watch it.
The BJP in Delhi has been demanding that the film be made tax-free in the national capital.