Vivek Agnihotri’s ‘the Tashkent Files’ Release Stopped by Congress

The film was supposed to release on Friday.

Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri has been served a legal notice ahead of the release of his film The Tashkent Files. The notice, seeks to stop the release of the film, and has been served by the grandson of former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri who. He also happens to be a Congress member and former Secretary of Congress.

The Tashkent Files is based on the mystery shrouding the death of Lal Bahadur Shastri who was in Tashkent to sign a peace agreement with the then-Pakistan president Ayub Khan.

Hours after signing the agreement, Shastri purportedly died of a heart attack. However, over the years, the family members have expressed suspicion about the events leading up to his death.

We have been sent a legal notice last night demanding to stop the release of the film. Three days ago, we had the film’s screening in Delhi where he (Shastri’s grandson) watched the film, loved it and appreciated it. 

Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri

According to the notice shared with IANS by Vivek, the film is trying to "create unwarranted and unnecessary controversy", and "will hurt the emotions and sentiments of a large section of the society".

I have come to know from the horse’s mouth that they have been coerced to do this by the top family. Shastri’s grandsons have been used as scapegoats as the orders are from the top family. I fail to understand why would the top Congress leaders do that? Why would Congress want to stop the movie, shut me up. Why am I being constantly bullied, threatened to release the film? Why are they scared of a movie that raises some questions on a citizen’s #RightToTruth?

Vivek Agnihotri

Vivek also said that as a film dedicated to journalists, he urges journalists to speak up and ask those concerned why they feel the need to stop the film’s release.

This is the first film in the history of Indian cinema which is dedicated to the journalists of India. This is a rare film where a young journalist comes out victor in her crusade to #RightToTruth. I expect our journalists to ask the top family and all concerned why do they want to stop the release of the film? What is making them feel so threatened?”

Vivek Agnihotri

The film, slated to release on Friday, features Naseeruddin Shah, Pallavi Joshi, Shweta Basu, Pankaj Tripathi, Mithun Chakraborty and Vinay Pathak in pivotal roles.

(With inputs from IANS)