By Express News Service
Hindi actor Amitabh Bachchan’s remarks on questions being raised on “civil liberties” and “freedom of expression” during the inauguration function of the 28th Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF) on Thursday, is being described as “clandestine admission of the misrule and trampling of democratic rights in West Bengal”, by the BJP.
Complimenting the actor for showing courage and expressing his opinions on the issue while sharing the stage with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the BJP leaders came in support of the actor. “Even now, I am sure my colleagues on stage would agree that questions are being raised on civil liberties and freedom of expression,” Bachchan had said.BL Santhosh, BJP’s national general secretary, tweeted, “He hit the nail on the head of @MamataOfficial on his side. Thank you @SrBachchan for standing for victims of political violence in West Bengal.”BJP’s IT cell chief and the special observer for the party in West Bengal, Amit Malviya also wrote on Twitter, “Amitabh Bachchan’s words couldn’t have been more prophetic since they were spoken in Kolkata, with Mamata Banerjee on the dais. It is like holding a mirror to the tyrant, under whose watch India witnessed the bloodiest post-poll violence. She has tarnished the image of Bengal…”It is to be noted that Amitabh’s references to “civil liberties” and “freedom of expression” came at a time when the actor is known to dodge political issues in public platforms. Before his speech, Shah Rukh Khan, who had also attended the event, said how social media was often driven by a narrowness of views that enclose collective narrative and makes it more divisive and destructive.
(This story originally appeared on Cinema Express)
Hindi actor Amitabh Bachchan’s remarks on questions being raised on “civil liberties” and “freedom of expression” during the inauguration function of the 28th Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF) on Thursday, is being described as “clandestine admission of the misrule and trampling of democratic rights in West Bengal”, by the BJP.
Complimenting the actor for showing courage and expressing his opinions on the issue while sharing the stage with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the BJP leaders came in support of the actor. “Even now, I am sure my colleagues on stage would agree that questions are being raised on civil liberties and freedom of expression,” Bachchan had said.
BL Santhosh, BJP’s national general secretary, tweeted, “He hit the nail on the head of @MamataOfficial on his side. Thank you @SrBachchan for standing for victims of political violence in West Bengal.”
BJP’s IT cell chief and the special observer for the party in West Bengal, Amit Malviya also wrote on Twitter, “Amitabh Bachchan’s words couldn’t have been more prophetic since they were spoken in Kolkata, with Mamata Banerjee on the dais. It is like holding a mirror to the tyrant, under whose watch India witnessed the bloodiest post-poll violence. She has tarnished the image of Bengal…”
It is to be noted that Amitabh’s references to “civil liberties” and “freedom of expression” came at a time when the actor is known to dodge political issues in public platforms. Before his speech, Shah Rukh Khan, who had also attended the event, said how social media was often driven by a narrowness of views that enclose collective narrative and makes it more divisive and destructive.
(This story originally appeared on Cinema Express)
