Blast from the past: How Twitter reacted to Sanjaya Baru’s book The Accidental Prime Minister in 2014

There’s a distinct feel of nostalgia as the end of 2018 suddenly feels like April 2014 again. The trailer of the movie version of Sanjaya Baru’s The Accidental Prime Minister has hit YouTube and understandably the Congress is seeing red.

With the Congress attacking the BJP after it lauded the trailer of "The Accidental Prime Minister", starring Anupam Kher as Manmohan Singh, Union minister Rajyavardhan Rathore on Friday asked whether his party doesn't even have the freedom to extend wishes to a film.

Also read: Sanjaya Baru's exclusive interview to DNA in 2014

The trailer of the film, based on the book of the same name by Sanjaya Baru who served as Singh's media advisor from 2004 to 2008, was released in Mumbai on Thursday.

The trailer shows Singh as a victim of the Congress's internal politics ahead of the 2014 general elections.

"Riveting tale of how a family held the country to ransom for 10 long years. Was Dr Singh just a regent who was holding on to the PM's chair till the time heir was ready? Watch the official trailer of 'TheAccidentalPrimeMinister', based on an insider's account, releasing on 11 January," the BJP said on Thursday night.

Congress leaders have slammed the "The Accidental Prime Minister", saying it is BJP's propaganda against their party.

Asked for his comments on the controversy outside Parliament, Rathore told reporters: "Can't we extend our wishes for a film? Congress has been all for freedom, why is it questioning that freedom now?" Directed by Vijay Ratnakar Gutte, the film stars Kher as Manmohan Singh and Akshaye Khanna as Baru. 

There was a similar reaction when the book was released as well in 2014.

Here’s how Twitter reacted back in the day:

Sanjay Baru only confirms what the whole Nation knew. The office of the PM was systematically diminished in the UPA Government.

— Arun Jaitley (@arunjaitley) April 12, 2014

Has Sanjaya Baru spilt the beans or has he spoilt the has-beens?

— Bibek Debroy (@bibekdebroy) April 11, 2014

LOL. Marital status gone for a toss with Sanjaya Baru :)

— Ashok Kini (@nationalizer) April 11, 2014

Sanjay Baru's exposure that India had a namesake PM,cld not hav come at better time!To Punish the Congress for having stolen our last 9 yrs.

— Kiran Bedi (@thekiranbedi) April 12, 2014

@thekiranbedi Shocking! For all these years we believed Manmohan Singh bossed around Sonia Gandhi while ruthlessly centralizing power.

— Sadanand Dhume (@dhume) April 12, 2014

@arunjaitley True. But Manmohan Singh allowed it to happen and therefore is as much responsible for the diminishing of his role. @PallabB

— Pritish Nandy (@PritishNandy) April 12, 2014

So, until Manmohan was his boss, Sanjay Baru didn't have a problem. Now that MMS is about to resign, Baru has an 'attack of conscience.'

— lindsay pereira (@lindsaypereira) April 12, 2014

It's highly unethical on the part of #SanjayaBaru to publish his book on Prime Minister DrManmohanSingh in the middle of election campaign.

— Sudheendra Kulkarni (@SudheenKulkarni) April 12, 2014

@SudheenKulkarni You mean there is a right time to speak truth? We should welcome the book instead.

— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) April 12, 2014

Has Sanjaya Baru spilt the beans or has he spoilt the has-beens?

— Bibek Debroy (@bibekdebroy) April 11, 2014