"The Accidental Prime Minister", starring Anupam Kher as Manmohan Singh, is BJP's propaganda against their party, Congress leaders said on Friday as the former prime minister evaded comment on the growing controversy over the film on him.
"The Accidental Prime Minister", starring Anupam Kher as Manmohan Singh, is BJP's propaganda against their party, Congress leaders said on Friday as the former prime minister evaded comment on the growing controversy over the film on him.
Congress leaders said propaganda against the party would not work and the truth shall prevail.
The trailer of the film, based on the book of the same name by Sanjay Baru who served as Singh's media advisor 2004 to 2008, was released in Mumbai on Thursday.
The trailer shows Singh as a victim of the Congress' internal politics ahead of the 2014 general elections.
Anupam Kher said: "The more they protest, the more publicity they will give to the film. The book has been out since 2014, no protests were held since then, so the film is based on that," he said.
Kher also referred to Congress president Rahul Gandhi's recent statement that freedom of expression is a fundamental right. This was in response to a party leader objecting to the language used to describe his father, former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, in the Netflix series "Sacred Games".
"I had read Rahul Gandhi ji's tweet where he spoke about freedom of expression. So I think he should scold these people and tell them they are doing wrong." BJP's official Twitter handle has shared a link to the trailer.
1. BJP response
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“Riveting tale of how a family held the country to ransom for 10 long years. Was Dr Singh just a regent who was holding on to the PM's chair till the time heir was ready? Watch the official trailer of 'TheAccidentalPrimeMinister', based on an insider's account, releasing on 11 January," the BJP said on Thursday night.
2. Cong response
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Responding to the BJP, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said on Twitter that such fake propaganda by the party would not stop it from asking the Modi government questions on "rural distress, rampant unemployment, demonetisation disaster, flawed GST, failed Modinomics, all pervading corruption .
3. No response: Manmohan Singh
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Asked by journalists to comment on the film at the Congress' foundation day function at the party headquarters on Friday, Singh walked away without saying anything.
Congress leader and Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said propaganda against the Congress and its leaders would not work and the truth shall prevail.
His colleague, Congress leader P L Punia, accused the BJP of evading answers on its mis-governance after having failed on all fronts.
4. Handiwork of BJP: Cong
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His colleague, Congress leader P L Punia, accused the BJP of evading answers on its mis-governance after having failed on all fronts.
This is the handiwork of the BJP. They know that time has come to give answers after completion of five years and they are now trying to divert attention by raising such issues and evade answering to the public after its government failed on all fronts, he said.
National Conference leader Omar Abdullah also tweeted on the film, saying, "Can't wait for when they make The Insensitive Prime Minister. So much worse than being the accidental one." Directed by Vijay Ratnakar Gutte, the film stars Kher as Manmohan Singh and Akshaye Khanna as Baru.
5. My best performance: Anupam Kher
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Calling "The Accidental Prime Minister" his "life's best performance", actor Anupam Kher on Friday said he will not back off from the snowballing controversy over the film on former prime minister Manmohan Singh.
The actor, who plays the title role in the movie, also took a swipe at Maharashtra Youth Congress' threat to stop the release unless it is first shown to them, saying they should be happy a film has been made on their leader.
6. Not going to back off: Anupam Kher
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"I am not going to back off. This is my life's best performance. #DrManmohanSingh will agree after seeing the film that it is a 100% accurate depiction," Kher tweeted. The trailer of the film, based on the book of the same name by Sanjay Baru who served as Singh's media advisor 2004 to 2008, was released here on Thursday.
It depicts Singh as a victim of Congress' internal politics ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.
The trailer drew sharp reactions from the Congress, which dubbed it a "propaganda film". The party's Maharashtra youth wing wrote a letter to the producers of the films to demand a special screening.
"They should be happy that a film has been made on their leader. They should bring the crowd to watch the film as it has dialogues such as 'Will I sell my country?' which shows how great Manmohan Singh ji is," Kher told television channels.
7. Rahul Gandhi said he stands for FOE: Anupam Kher
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"The more they protest, the more publicity they will give to the film. The book has been out since 2014, no protests were held since then, so the film is based on that," he said.
Kher also referred to Congress president Rahul Gandhi's recent statement that freedom of expression is a fundamental right. This was in response to a party leader objecting to the language used to describe his father, former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, in the Netflix series "Sacred Games".
"I had read Rahul Gandhi ji's tweet where he spoke about freedom of expression. So I think he should scold these people and tell them they are doing wrong." BJP's official Twitter handle has shared a link to the trailer.
8. Omar Abdullah's reaction
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National Conference leader Omar Abdullah also tweeted on the film, saying, "Can't wait for when they make The Insensitive Prime Minister. So much worse than being the accidental one." Directed by Vijay Ratnakar Gutte, the film stars Kher as Manmohan Singh and Akshaye Khanna as Baru.
9. No ban: MP government
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The Congress-led government in Madhya Pradesh Friday said it has not banned the film 'The Accidental Prime Minister', in which Anupam Kher plays former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The Department of Public Relations of Madhya Pradesh government tweeted that there is no decision by the government to ban the film, adding that media reports announcing the ban were not factual. The film has sparked a row over alleged distortion of facts. The clarification came after a section of media reported that the film, based on the book of the same name by Singh's media advisor Sanjaya Baru, has been banned in the state.
10. Rathore reaction
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With the Congress attacking the BJP after it lauded the trailer of "The Accidental Prime Minister", starring Anupam Kher as Manmohan Singh, Union minister Rajyavardhan Rathore on Friday asked whether his party doesn't even have the freedom to extend wishes to a film.
The trailer of the film, based on the book of the same name by Sanjaya Baru who served as Singh's media advisor from 2004 to 2008, was released in Mumbai on Thursday. The trailer shows Singh as a victim of the Congress's internal politics ahead of the 2014 general elections. "Riveting tale of how a family held the country to ransom for 10 long years. Was Dr Singh just a regent who was holding on to the PM's chair till the time heir was ready? Watch the official trailer of 'TheAccidentalPrimeMinister', based on an insider's account, releasing on 11 January," the BJP said on Thursday night.
