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A day after Israeli filmmaker Nadav Lapid criticised Hindi film ‘The Kashmir Files’ at IFFI, the country’s envoy to India Naor Gilon slammed him, saying he should be “ashamed” as he had “abused in the worst way” the Indian invitation to him to chair the panel of judges at the film festival.
In a report by PTI, Gilon’s remarks, in an open letter to Lapid, came after the jury head of the 53rd International Film Festival of India (IFFI) described ‘The Kashmir Files’ as “propaganda” and “vulgar”.
In his speech at the closing ceremony of IFFI 2022, Lapid said on Monday that he was “disturbed and shocked” to see the film being screened at the film festival.
In the open letter put out in a series of tweets, Gilon said Lapid should be “ashamed” and gave reasons for it.
An open letter to #NadavLapid following his criticism of #KashmirFiles. It’s not in Hebrew because I wanted our Indian brothers and sisters to be able to understand. It is also relatively long so I’ll give you the bottom line first. YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED. Here’s why: pic.twitter.com/8YpSQGMXIR
— Naor Gilon (@NaorGilon) November 29, 2022
“In Indian culture they say that a guest is like God. You (Lapid) have abused in the worst way the Indian invitation to chair the panel of judges at @IFFIGoa as well as the trust, respect and warm hospitality they have bestowed on you.”
“As a son of a holocaust survivor, I was extremely hurt to see reactions in India to you that are doubting Schindler’s List, the Holocaust and worse. I unequivocally condemn such statements. There is no justification. It does show the sensitivity of the Kashmir issue here,” he said.
