Congress Madly Hitting at our National Hero

Congress leaders from Maharashtra have told the central leadership that the star, a brand ambassador for Gujarat headed by Narendra Modi, was a prominent feature of the inauguration on Wednesday, also attended by chief minister Ashok Chavan.

Though Bachchan has tried to make light of the issue saying that the controversy has been cooked, central leadership supported the protesting party cadre in Maharashtra even as it accepted Chavan's explanation that he didn't invite the film icon.

Party general secretary Janardan Dwivedi said, "The party is aware of whatever has happened there. Party workers are angry because Amitabh Bachchan has identified himself with Narendra Modi."

That BJP sprang to Bachchan's defence can only lend intensity to Congress's opposition. The principal Opposition said that the movie icon has become a victim of the "feud" in Congress and "fear" of the Gandhi family in the party.

Dwivedi quoted Chavan's plea of ignorance to signal that the explanation was fine with the leadership.

Bachchan becoming a brand ambassador for Gujarat to "promote tourism" gives Congress enough political reason to protest his presence at a function organised by a government in which it is the senior partner. The party is careful about personal or political contact with the Gujarat chief minister.

Dwivedi, while making it clear that Congress would not brook Bachchan's presence in social or government events, stressed that the opposition to Bachchan was on account of his "political background" and not against the individual.

Reacting to the Congress stand, BJP spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy said, "The Bandra-Worli sea link is a national property and certainly not a property of the Congress party. Every Indian has a right to be there. Undoubtedly, Amitabh Bachchan is the nation's pride and a distinguished Mumbaikar who has full credentials to be the chief guest there."

Rudy criticised the Congress for "generating a controversy" over invitation to Bachchan. "It is beyond Indian tradition to invite and then insult. Bachchan cannot be a victim of internal feud in Congress party, in particular in Maharashtra and in general at the national level," Rudy said.

BJP claimed that though the invitation to Bachchan had been sent by the NCP minister in-charge, the "fear" of the Gandhi family led Congress leaders to agitate against his presence. "The fear of the Gandhi family and their likes and dislikes loom so large that it could soon become a threat to democracy," Rudy said.

The party also noted the reference made to the Gujarat CM in regard to the affair. "Bachchan's mere association as brand ambassador of Gujarat is being vilified by Congress. A national icon is being derided for petty political gains," Rudy said.

Is Congresss trying to prove that it can do anything even attack a nice man and national hero just to promote petty self-interest?