Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari asked whether Bachchan also endorsed Modi’s “role” in the 2002 riots or condemned it.
Narendra Modi’s comments in blogosphere praising Amitabh Bachchan for promoting brand Gujarat and denouncing the actor’s critics as the “Talibans of untouchability”, have evoked a sharp response from the Congress.
At a press briefing in New Delhi on Monday, the Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari asked whether Bachchan also endorsed Modi’s “role” in the 2002 riots or condemned it.
“What does he (Bachchan) say about the Gujarat massacre and the fake encounters that took place there after Modi took over?” Tewari asked. “If he is sensible and right-thinking, he will come out strongly against it (the riots).”
Writing in his blog on Sunday evening, Modi had praised Bachchan saying that the actor’s commitment to Gujarat’s promotion was “inspiring”. In an oblique reference to the Congress, the chief minister lashed out at those who criticised the actor for being Gujarat’s brand ambassador, and said they were the “Talibans of public life”.
Modi’s blog post of Sunday makes out Gujarat to be a victim. “They [Bachchan’s critics] may well in future tell us not to eat salt even (sic). They may even ban the eating of Amul butter and milk and order our young people not to wear denim jeans! And guess why? Because Gujarat produces these things,” Modi says in his blog.
The Congress was quick to retort. Speaking on the sidelines of a Seva Dal function in New Delhi on Monday, senior Congress leader and Union minister Ambika Soni told mediapersons that
Modi was “frustrated” after his marathon questioning
by the SIT.
“This [questioning by the SIT] has apparently frustrated him to use the word Taliban in a light and flippant manner…He should make such statements with some seriousness,” she said.
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