Congress dares Bachchan to take stand on Modi

Mumbai: The thinly-veiled hostility of last week has now turned into a full-frontal attack.

The Congress dared Amitabh Bachchan on Monday evening to distance himself from Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi. (Forum: Should Big B continue as Gujarat Ambassador?)

"I want to ask Amitabh Bachchan a direct question. He is the brand ambassador of Gujarat, I want to ask him does he condemn the role of Narendra Modi and Gujarat government in the pogrom of 2002... and if he does condemn it, then let us see whether he remains the brand ambassador... which I think he will condemn," said Manish Tewari, Congress spokesperson.

Bachchan has accepted Modi's offer to be Gujarat's brand ambassador for tourism, a move that has landed him in a political controversy. Speaking to NDTV's Prannoy Roy last week, Bachchan pointed out that his alliance is not with Modi's politics or governance. (Read: Bachchan blogs his reaction on the sealink row)

"I was approached to become the brand ambassador for just Tourism, nothing else. I was there because I wanted tax exemption for my film, Paa...and these decisions are taken by the head of the government... he (Modi) also mentioned 'why don't you bring some of your shootings to this state? I've got nothing to do with politics..." Bachchan said. (Watch: Bachchan to NDTV on Sea Link and other controversies)

On Monday morning, Modi blogged his own take on the issue: ''The love of Amitabh Bachchan for Gujarat is being dragged into controversy. Respected Mahatma Gandhi had worked ceaselessly for the removal of untouchability from our social life during his life time... These 'Talibans of Untouchability' have lost all their sensibilities in their pursuit of anti-Gujarat attitudes.'' (Read and watch: Modi calls critics 'the Taliban' of public life)

In Gujarat, the Opposition said this is Modi's desperate attempt to shift focus from his own tough weekend where he spent nine hours being questioned by a panel about his alleged role in the Gujarat communal riots of 2002.

But even for dispassionate observers, the various slights to Bachchan are beginning to rankle.
Late last week, Bachchan was invited to the inauguration of the new Bandra-Worli sea link in Mumbai. The fact that he was a VIP invitee in a Congress-ruled state caused much discontent within the party. Some say it was Bachchan's perceived association with Modi that irked the party's leaders; others say it was his alliance with controversial politician Amar Singh, who Bachchan describes as family; a faction believes that it's Bachchan's uneasy equation with the Gandhis, with whom he was once very close, that was the real issue. (Watch: Congressmen resent Big B's presence at sea link inauguration)

Either way, Chief Minister Ashok Chavan brusquely stated that had he known Bachchan was attending the inauguration, he would have skipped it. (Watch: Chavan avoids sharing dais with Amitabh)

Bachchan pointed out that had been invited to the event by the minister in charge of the event.
Bachchan has also been defended by Chhagan Bhujbal, Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister, who said that the actor's presence has been highlighted in newspapers before the event and so it was incorrect to say that it was sprung as a surprise upon a helpless Chavan.

Those who believe Bachchan is the prey in a witch-hunt got new ammunition on Saturday. A video message from Abhishek Bachchan did not play out as planned at a function in Delhi for Earth Day, attended by Congress Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit. (Read: Congress leaves Abhishek in the dark?)

And in Maharashtra, at a state literary festival, Chavan re-scheduled his appearance to avoid bumping into Bachchan, or sharing a stage with him.