Are stars soft targets in a political war?

Parties should focus on positive agenda and stop targeting actors

Incident blown out of proportion
Our politicians want to please everyone and they don’t have permanent foes or friends. There may be some truth in what Amitabh Bachchan is saying. Abhishek may have been sidelined, but the matter is being blown out of proportion. Abhishek was promoting the event wholeheartedly and such treatment is unfortunate.
—Ambreen Merchant

National parties are being too petty
There might be a pattern to sidelining the Bachchans, due to their support for other political parties. It is strange that national parties are acting so petty. They seem to be no better than regional ones. Rather than talking about the many issues, they end up focusing on things like a function’s chief guest or an event’s ambassador. —Hardik Rajgor

Netas shouldn’t always hog limelight
I’m disappointed with the hostile attitude of India’s oldest party towards an icon who has represented the country on a global scale. I regret the petty politics which has followed Amitabh’s attendance at the sea link's inauguration. He isn’t just a celebrity, but a taxpayer and has the right to be on the podium. In a democracy, politicians shouldn’t monopolise inauguration of public structures.
—Devendra Pai

AB’s links probably haunting him
Looking at the recent sequence of events, it emerges that there is a pattern in sidelining the Bachchans. It could be because of his old association with the Samajwadi Party or that he has been a brand ambassador for Gujarat — a state ruled by the BJP. Stars are soft targets for parties which pick on them to gain popularity.     —Rachita Mhapsekar

Public should resist such campaigns
Political parties don’t seem to be bothered about nation building; rather they seem interested in petty politics. The public should raise their voice against such acts and support such personalities. Film stars and many sportspersons have become easy targets and some want to garner publicity by targeting them.                      —Jeethkumar Kundar

Compiled by Brinda Majithia