Amitabh Bachchan has been chosen to host a mega-show in Delhi on Saturday to celebrate two years of Modi government.
Highlights
- Amitabh Bachchan chosen to host show to mark 2 years of Modi government
- Congress says Bachchan named in Panama papers, wrong signal to agencies
- BJP rejects criticism, says Bachchan has contributed a lot to the country
The Congress has raked up the Panama Papers controversy to ask why
actor Amitabh Bachchan has been chosen to host a mega show in Delhi to celebrate the Modi government's two years in power.
"We want to question Modiji...he promised to bring back black money, promised to punish each person who was involved. Would it not send a wrong message to all investigative agencies when a person accused of money laundering is seen hosting a program to celebrate two years of the Modi government?" asked the Congress' Randeep Surjewala today, prefacing his comments with, "Everyone in India loves Amitabh Bachchan as an artist and as an elder".
"He has denied charges and he may be proved innocent, but what message is the PM sending?" Mr Surjewala also said.
The ruling BJP's Shahnawaz Hussain retorted, "Big B is a superstar, people love him. The people of India love Big B more than Rahul Gandhi. The Congress does not need show its jealousy."
Mr
Hussain linked the Congress's attack to what he called its "frustration" at losing another set of assembly elections last week.
Amitabh Bachchan's name figured last month on a list of Indians in what has been dubbed the Panama Papers - a massive leak of tax documents on offshore companies and accounts of the rich and the powerful. Mr Bachchan has denied all knowledge of the companies said to be linked to him and said his name may have been "misused".
Amitabh Bachchan's son Abhishek Bachchan said his father was not hosting a political event. "He is part of a function where he's talking about educating the girl child," Abhishek said.
Mr Bachchan is scheduled to host on Saturday evening a portion of what officials of public broadcaster Doordarshan describe as its biggest show ever live from Delhi's India Gate. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the finale.
The five-hour show from 5 to 10 in the evening is likely to be titled '
Ek Nayi Subah' or a new morning and will also feature other Bollywood stars like Anil Kapoor, Anupam Kher and Juhi Chawla.
The government's top ministers will hold panel discussions on subjects related to their departments. The Modi government completes two years in office tomorrow and the BJP has planned weeks of celebrations.