Big B as brand ambassador: Mallika flays Modi

Kozhikode: Danseuse Mallika Sarabhai on Tuesday lashed out at the Narendra Modi government for naming megastar Amitabh Bachchan as Gujarat's brand ambassador saying the actor did not have a deep knowledge about the state.

"Modi has chosen someone who lost position in the Mulayam Singh-Amar Singh rule and got someone for the new job who does not know nor understand about Gujarat. That is why Modi chose Bachchan...that is what Modi wants and that is what Modi does," Mallika told reporters.

Attacking the veteran actor, she said, "It could be that Bachchan wants tax exemption for his films, free land in Gujarat and wants Jaya (Bachchan) to be made as Rajya Sabha member" (with BJP's support).

"It is good enough to become ambassador of our own state as Gujarat is my 'karma bhumi'," said Mallika, here to perform at a programme as part of the Malabar Mahotsavam.