Vivek Agnihotri alleges 'hate campaign' as Foreign Correspondents Club cancels press conference

New Delhi: Filmmaker Vivek Agnihorti alleged that the Foreign Correspondents Club in Delhi has cancelled a press conference which he was to attend, and said there was a "hate campaign" against him. 

The filmmaker, whose film 'The Kashmir Files' recorded massive success at the box office, tweeted on Tuesday saying he was to attend a press conference at the Foreign Correspondents Club on May 5, but it was cancelled. He called it "undemocratic" and said he received a call from the President of the club who said the press conference had to be cancelled.

Agnihotri alleged he was a victim of a "hate campaign". "Foreign Correspondents Club, New Delhi has cancelled my PC (press conference) on 5th May in an undemocratic manner as part of a hate-campaign against The Kashmir Files," Agnihotri alleged.

Press Club of India President Umakant Lakhera, however, said they do not have any booking for any events on May 5. "The Press Club of India is not facilitating any event on May 5 by any individual or organisation. The Club allows press conferences only with advanced booking. There is a due process, and bookings have to be done through a member of the Club," the Press Club of India said in a tweet.

'The Kashmir Files' is a 2022 Indian Hindi film written and directed by Vivek Agnihotri, which has triggered controversy with several Opposition leaders calling it a propaganda movie.

The film has received accolades from Prime Minister Narendra Modi among others, who had said at a meeting after their recent victory of BJP in four states that the movie rattled those who claim to be the torchbearers of freedom of expression, and said there was a 'conspiracy' to keep the truth from coming out.

The film presents a fictional storyline centered around the exodus of Kashmiri Hindus in the 1990s. (UNI)