Tag: Criticism

  • Bengal minister faces criticism for making controversial remarks on President, later apologises

    By PTI

    NANDIGRAM: West Bengal Minister Akhil Giri on Saturday drew widespread criticism for making controversial remarks on President Droupadi Murmu. After the video clip of his comments went viral, Giri apologised for making such a remark.

    In a 17-second video clip, the authenticity of which PTI could not verify independently, Giri was heard commenting on the “looks of the President”.

    “They (BJP) said that I am not good-looking. We don’t judge anyone by their appearance. We respect the office of the President (of India). But how does our President look?” Giri, the minister of state for Correctional Homes, was heard saying at a rally in a village in Nandigram late on Friday evening.

    Later while talking to reporters this morning, Giri apologised for making such a remark.

    “I didn’t mean to disrespect the Honourable President. I was replying to what BJP leaders said while verbally attacking me. I apologise for making such a remark. I have immense respect for the President of our country,” he said.

    However, the BJP lashed out at the Trinamool Congress and said Giri’s remark reflected the “anti-tribal” mindset of the TMC.

    “President Droupadi Murmu hails from the tribal community. Akhil Giri made objectionable comments against the country’s President. These comments reflect the anti-tribal mindset of the TMC party,” BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar said.

    Amit Malviya In-charge of BJP’s National Information & Technology Dept, Co-incharge West Bengal said in a tweet, “Akhil Giri, minister in Mamata Banerjee’s cabinet, insults the President, says, We don’t care about looks. But how does your President look? Mamata Banerjee has always been anti-Tribals, didn’t support President Murmu for office and now this. Shameful level of discourse”.

    The TMC said it doesn’t support such a comment but won’t take responsibility for remarks made by leaders in an individual capacity.

    “We don’t want to comment on stray remarks by individuals. The party neither supports such remarks nor takes responsibility for such comments. We have immense respect for the President of the country,” TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh told PTI.

    NANDIGRAM: West Bengal Minister Akhil Giri on Saturday drew widespread criticism for making controversial remarks on President Droupadi Murmu. After the video clip of his comments went viral, Giri apologised for making such a remark.

    In a 17-second video clip, the authenticity of which PTI could not verify independently, Giri was heard commenting on the “looks of the President”.

    “They (BJP) said that I am not good-looking. We don’t judge anyone by their appearance. We respect the office of the President (of India). But how does our President look?” Giri, the minister of state for Correctional Homes, was heard saying at a rally in a village in Nandigram late on Friday evening.

    Later while talking to reporters this morning, Giri apologised for making such a remark.

    “I didn’t mean to disrespect the Honourable President. I was replying to what BJP leaders said while verbally attacking me. I apologise for making such a remark. I have immense respect for the President of our country,” he said.

    However, the BJP lashed out at the Trinamool Congress and said Giri’s remark reflected the “anti-tribal” mindset of the TMC.

    “President Droupadi Murmu hails from the tribal community. Akhil Giri made objectionable comments against the country’s President. These comments reflect the anti-tribal mindset of the TMC party,” BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar said.

    Amit Malviya In-charge of BJP’s National Information & Technology Dept, Co-incharge West Bengal said in a tweet, “Akhil Giri, minister in Mamata Banerjee’s cabinet, insults the President, says, We don’t care about looks. But how does your President look? Mamata Banerjee has always been anti-Tribals, didn’t support President Murmu for office and now this. Shameful level of discourse”.

    The TMC said it doesn’t support such a comment but won’t take responsibility for remarks made by leaders in an individual capacity.

    “We don’t want to comment on stray remarks by individuals. The party neither supports such remarks nor takes responsibility for such comments. We have immense respect for the President of the country,” TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh told PTI.

  • Disney responds to Peter Dinklage’s criticism of ‘Snow White’ remake

    By IANS

    LOS ANGELES: Entertainment company Disney has responded to criticism of its forthcoming live action adaptation of ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’ made by ‘Game of Thrones’ star Peter Dinklage.

    Dinklage said the remake of the 1937 animated film, based on a story from the Brothers Grimm, was “backward”, reports bbc.com.

    Disney said it was going to “avoid reinforcing stereotypes from the original animated film”.

    Dinklage had said Disney should have reassessed the project.

    “I was a little taken aback by [the fact] they were very proud to cast a Latina actress as Snow White,” he told podcaster Marc Maron.

    “But you’re still telling the story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”.

    Dinklage has a form of dwarfism called achondroplasia.

    ALSO READ | Peter Dinklage: People should ‘move on’ from ‘Game of Thrones’ finale

    “You’re progressive in one way but you’re still making that backward story of seven dwarves living in the cave,” he continued.

    “They were so proud of that, and all love and respect to the actress and the people who thought they were doing the right thing but I’m just like, ‘What are you doing?’”

    In a statement, Disney said the live action remake will be an updated version of the original 1937 film.

    “We are taking a different approach with these seven characters and have been consulting with members of the dwarfism community,” it said in a statement.

    “We look forward to sharing more as the film heads into production after a lengthy development period.”

    Oscar-nominated producer Marc Platt, who also worked on Disney’s live-action rendition of ‘The Little Mermaid’, is set to produce the film.