New Delhi:
The Congress has reportedly decided that it will no longer comment publicly on its discontentment with Amitabh Bachchan. Not if the BJP can help it.
In Kolkata on Thursday, BJP Party President Nitin Gadkari said, "He (Amitabh) is a great actor.... just because Madam doesn't like him, how can he be blacklisted from programmes? Just because the Prince doesn't like him.."
Over the last ten days, the Congress seemed to devote much time and attention to slighting the superstar publicly. The reason for the discord: Bachchan's decision to become the Brand Ambassador for Gujarat Tourism.
(Read: Congress dares Bachchan to take stand on Modi)The Congress' response was a compendium of its history with Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi. The party said it was not becoming for a national icon to ally with Modi, given his state's record of one of the worst communal riots in recent Indian history.
Bachchan pointed out -repeatedly -that he was going to promote Gujarat's history and monuments, not its politics. In an interview to NDTV, he pointed out that he will not be paid for his Brand Ambassador role. (
Watch: Bachchan to NDTV on Sea Link and other controversies)
Many suggest that the real reason for the Congress' attack on the Bachchan is based on his uneasy equation with the party's first family, the Gandhis.
(The Gandhi-Bachchan story in pics)Whether or not that's entirely true, the Congress first ticked off its government in Maharashtra for making Bachchan a VIP invitee at the inauguration of one of Mumbai's biggest projects -the Sea Link from Bandra to Worli. Smarting from party criticism, Chief Minister Ashok Chavan said if he had known Bachchan were attending the function, he would have skipped it.
Chavan then changed his schedule to avoid attending a literary festival with Bachchan. (
Read: Chavan avoids sharing dais with Amitabh Bachchan)
In Delhi, Bachchan's son, Abhishek, seemed to have been censored from a government function on Earth Day. His recorded video message was dropped from the ceremony at the last minute. Congress Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said she was unaware of any changes to the program.
(Read: Congress leaves Abhishek in the dark?)Bachchan has been staunchly defended by Narendra Modi who has produced multiple blogs on the issue. Praising Bachchan for sticking to his stand and post in the face of criticism, Modi said critics are like the Taliban. (
Read and watch: Modi calls critics 'the Taliban' of public life)
"A great artist with legendary humility and even taller achievements like Amitabh Bachchan who has chosen to celebrate the glorious heritage of Gujarat while facing a lot of criticisms. These people, while brandishing Mahatma Gandhi's name are busy creating a new viciousness in the flow of our public life. These 'Talibans of Untouchability' have lost all their sensibilities in their pursuit of anti-Gujarat attitudes. 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," he said.