Filmmaker Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri has rejected an invitation from the Oxford Union to participate in a debate over Kashmir’s status.
Mr. Agnihotri, known for his critically acclaimed film ‘The Kashmir Files,’ said he found the debate’s theme not only offensive but also fundamentally against the interests of India and Kashmir.
The Oxford Union, a renowned debating society at the University of Oxford, had proposed the motion ‘This House Believes in an Independent State of Kashmir.’
Mr. Agnihotri, in his response, described this theme as a direct challenge to India’s sovereignty, arguing that the abrogation of Article 370 has settled the debate over Kashmir’s independence within India’s constitutional framework.
Agnihotri shared his decision on X, formerly known as Twitter, stating, “I was invited by the prestigious Oxford Union to debate on Kashmir. I found the theme offensive, anti-India, and anti-Kashmir. On principle, I have declined the offer.” His post was accompanied by copies of the invitation and his formal decline letter.
The filmmaker’s decision follows previous tensions with the Oxford Union. In 2022, an event featuring Mr. Agnihotri was postponed, which he attributed to protests by Pakistani students against his presence.