"You cannot take it as a joke..": Filmmaker Ashoke Pandit calls out Atul Kulkarni for focusing on tourism instead of terrorism
Filmmaker Ashoke Pandit has reacted to actor
Atul Kulkarni
's recent visit to Kashmir following the ghastly terror attack that took place in the Pahalgam region earlier this month.
Kulkarni's visit was intended to encourage people to continue visiting the region to support its tourism industry.
While speaking to ANI, the filmmaker, commenting on Kulkarni's approach, stated that it overlooks the deeper issue of "terrorism" in the region. He also expressed disappointment that Kulkarni "never condemned" the fact that "Islamic Jihad was behind this incident."
Calling the attack an "undeclared war" against India, Pandit said, "The massacre that happened in Pahalgam was an undeclared war that
Pakistan
wages against India. Be it Atul Kulkarni or
Suniel Shetty
, they stated that tourism continues to flourish here, and by doing so, we can give a reply to terrorists..."
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
New Container Houses Vietnam (Take A Look At The Prices)
Container House
Search Now
Undo
"We, the Kashmiri Pandits who rate the victims, always say that tourism has nothing to do with terrorism. Even when crores of people are going there, this incident still happened. Terrorism is constant there... I appealed to Atul to study things and not handle and talk about such issues on a surface level. We all know that Kashmir is ours, but at such a time, you cannot take it as a joke... He never condemned that Islamic Jihad was behind this incident, and Hindus were killed selectively. He didn't condemn that, but was worried about tourism," he added.
Earlier, while Kulkarni was in Kashmir, he expressed his deep sadness over the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam. He revealed that he was moved by the news of "90 percent of tourist bookings" being canceled and decided to visit Kashmir in person to send a message of support, instead of just discussing the incident from Mumbai.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DI8o3TmIlY9/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
"What happened on the 22nd was a very tragic incident; this should not have happened. The entire country is deeply saddened. When I read about it, I was thinking that every time something like this happens, what do we do? We post on social media, we talk to friends, we write something, but then I thought, what can I actually do in real action?" Kulkarni told ANI.
Earlier, at the sidelines of the Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar Award 2025 ceremony, Suniel Shetty had also urged Indian citizens to plan their next holiday in Kashmir and nowhere else, while speaking to the media.
"Hume nagrik ki taraf se ek hi karna hai, hume ye decide karna hai ki aaj se hamari agli chutti
jo
hogi, woh Kashmir mein hi hogi aur kahin nahi hogi. Unko ye dikhana hai ki hume darr nahi hai, aur waqi mein darr nahi hai (As a citizen, we have to do one thing. We have to decide that our next holiday will be in Kashmir and nowhere else. We have to show them that we are not scared)," said Suniel Shetty.
On April 22, terrorists attacked tourists at Baisaran meadow in Pahalgam, killing 25 Indian nationals and one Nepali citizen, while leaving several others injured in one of the deadliest attacks in the Valley since the 2019 Pulwama strike, in which 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawans were killed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
21 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Amid Trump tariffs, Jaishankar invites Russian firms to engage ‘more intensively' with India
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday called upon Russian companies to engage "more intensively" with its Indian counterparts, citing New Delhi's initiatives that have opened more avenues for foreign businesses. S Jaishankar during the 26th Session of the India-Russia Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technical and Cultural cooperation, in Moscow(@DrSJaishankar) Addressing the India-Russia Business Forum in Moscow, Jaishankar highlighted the time-tested relationship the two countries have shared and called for deeper economic ties amid global uncertainty. "The 'Make in India' and other such initiatives have opened up new windows for foreign businesses. The modernisation and the urbanisation of India generate their own demands, flowing from shifts in consumption and lifestyle. Each of these dimensions represent an invitation for Russian companies to engage more intensively with their Indian counterparts. Our endeavour is to encourage them to rise to that challenge," he said. Jaishankar made the remarks after he highlighted how India's GDP was on a rise, drawing focus on the "need for large resources from dependable sources". "In some cases, it could be assured supplies of essential products, fertiliser, chemicals, and machinery, being good examples. Its rapidly growing infrastructure offers business openings to enterprises with an established track record in their own country," said Jaishankar. The External Affairs Minister's invite to Russian companies comes days ahead of US President Donald Trump's 50% tariff deadline for India. The Republican had earlier announced 25% duties on Indian imports, which he later doubled, citing India's oil trade with Russia. While one half of these tariffs have been imposed, the other are set to take effect on August 27. 'India-Russia ties one of steadiest' Further pushing for deeper trade ties between the two countries, S Jaishankar said in Moscow that while India and Russia's ties have been one of the steadiest over the years, it didn't reflect as much on the economic cooperation between them. "Our trade basket remains limited and till recently, so did our trade volume. It may have grown in recent years, but then, so too has the trade deficit. Both the diversification and balancing of trade now urgently mandate more strenuous efforts on our part. At the end of the day, they are essential not just to reach higher trade targets but even to sustain the existing levels," Jaishankar said. Pushing for both nations to contemplate more investments, joint ventures and other forms of collaboration, Jaishankar said that him and Russia's first deputy prime minister Denis Manturov want to send out a "clear message that an enduring strategic partnership must have a strong and sustainable economic component". Jaishankar also pushed for a sync between what the respective governments are discussing and what businesses are planning in order for India and Russia to collaborate better economically.
NDTV
21 minutes ago
- NDTV
"Draconian Act": Congress Slams Centre Over Constitution Amendment Bill
New Delhi: Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Wednesday criticised the 130th Constitution Amendment Bill that sought to allow the removal of the Prime Minister, Chief Ministers, and ministers if they were held on serious criminal charges. The Congress leader accused the ruling BJP of using its majority in Parliament to push through the bill with the intention of targeting the opposition. He called the move "draconian" and politically motivated. The 130th Constitution Amendment Bill seeks to remove the Prime Minister or Chief Ministers who are facing allegations of corruption or serious offences and have been detained for 30 consecutive days. Speaking to ANI, the Congress leader called the bill a political weapon and said, "The intention of the ruling side to pass this bill using its majority is not right. This will be used as a tool to target the opposition. This is a draconian act." He further questioned the timing of the bill, linking it to ongoing debates over the allegation on the Election Commission of 'vote theft'. "At a time when questions are rising against the Election Commission, there is panic in the ruling party, and this issue has now been raised to divert attention from it?" Adhir Ranjan told ANI. Earlier in the day, slamming the BJP government over the introduction of the 130th Constitution Amendment Bill in Lok Sabha, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin said that legislation, if passed, will allow the ruling party at the Centre to register false cases against Chief Ministers of the opposition parties and it will shake the democratic foundations of the country. In a post on X, Mr Stalin said that the BJP Government has decided to "defile" the Constitution."The 130th Constitutional Amendment is not reform -- this is a Black Day and this is a Black Bill. 30-day arrest = Removal of an elected CM. No trial, no conviction -- just BJP's DIKTAT. This is how DICTATORSHIPS begin: Steal votes, Silence rivals and Crush States," wrote Mr Stalin while condemning the bill. The Tamil Nadu CM pointed out that the introduction of the said bill is the BJP's government diversion tactic to bring the bill at a time when it is facing allegations over "vote theft". "After the expose of #VoteTheft, the very mandate on which the Union BJP Government was formed is in serious question. Its legitimacy is doubtful. Having stolen the mandate of the people through fraud, the BJP is now desperate to distract public attention from this expose. To do that, they have brought in the 130th Constitutional Amendment Bill," he said. Expressing faith in the judiciary, CM Stalin said that the Constitution Amendment bill will be struck down by the courts. Union Home Minister Amit Shah introduced the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirtieth Amendment) Bill, 2025, to further amend the Constitution of India and the Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill, 2025, apart from the bill to amend the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019. He also proposed sending the bllls to a joint committee of Parliament.
The Hindu
21 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Protesting teachers in Bengal dejected after Supreme Court junks review petition
Protesting teachers dejected after the Supreme Court rejected multiple review petitions to reconsider its April 3 judgement which upheld the annulment of the appointment of nearly 24,000 school staff, including teachers and non-teaching staff. Disappointed teachers said that both the West Bengal State government and the judicial system have 'failed' them. In an order on August 5 made public on August 19, the apex court said, 'No doubt, invalidation of such untainted appointments would lead to heartburn and anguish, which the Court was fully conscious of, but protecting the purity of the selection process is paramount and necessarily has to be given the highest priority.' Several 'untainted' teachers have questioned the judgement, questioning that the top court should have heard the review petitions if it was so 'anguished' by the teachers' plight. Chinmoy Mondal, a leader of the Jogyo Shikkhok Shikkhika Adhikar Mancha (JSSAM) said that only providing age relaxation and forcing the 'untainted' candidates like him and 15,000 others to reappear for the recruitment process is disappointing. 'We got no grace marks for our years of work, no seat reservations, then what relaxation did we get?' Mr. Mondal said on Wednesday (August 20, 2025). More than 180-200 review petitions were filed at the Supreme Court urging the top judiciary to reconsider their judgement. The order also stated, 'These review petitions which, in effect, seek a re-hearing of the entire matter on merits, therefore, do not deserve to be entertained as all relevant aspects have already been examined and considered comprehensively.' The 'untainted' teachers also asked for an extension on the re-examination date which is scheduled to be held on September 7 and 14. 'We hardly have 2-3 weeks left to prepare for the exams. Even if we study for 20 hours a day, we will not make it,' Mr. Mondal said. Mehboob Mondal, another teacher and leader of JSSAM said that around 13,000 of the 'untainted' teachers filled up the new recruitment form but nearly 3,000 could not as the new recruitment rules were different from the ones they followed during the 2016 recruitment drive. 'The Indian judicial system is not working according to the constitution. If the court has all evidence of who the 'untainted' candidates are, then why did they do this to us? They are doing this to protect the real criminals and killing us in the process. Both government and the judiciary have failed us,' Mr. Mondal told The Hindu. The teachers are now preparing to reappear for the exam nine years after they appeared for the same exam conducted by the West Bengal School Service Commission in 2016. However, this time, they will have to compete with thousands of other new and young candidates despite having served in State-run public schools for the past 7-8 years. On April 3, the Supreme Court upheld the Calcutta High Court order which cancelled the appointment of all candidates in the 2016 panel. However, on April 17, the apex court allowed 'untainted' candidates to continue in service until December 31, or until a fresh selection process is completed, but the same relaxation was not given to the non-teaching staff neither have any new re-recruitment notification been issued for the non-teaching staff. The thousands of non-teaching staff have not received any salary since last April and on multiple occasions have said that their families are struggling to make ends meet.
