BJP calls The Accidental Prime Minister a ‘Riveting Tale’; Manmohan Singh evades question

Amid ongoing row over 'The Accidental Prime Minister' movie, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has called it a riveting tale of how a family held the country to ransom for 10 long years.

The remark comes as Maharashtra Youth Congress has raised objections to Anupam Kher starrer movie and asserted that if the film is released without prior screening for their office bearers, they will resort to 'other options' to stop the screening of the film.

The film is based on the book of the same name, written by Sanjay Baru, who served as former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's media advisor 2004 to 2008. Akshaye Khanna features as Baru.

The trailer shows Singh as the victim of the inside politics of the Congress party ahead of 2014 general elections, which the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) lost.

Manmohan Singh has refused to be drawn into the controversy over the film and evaded question when asked about it.

#WATCH Former Prime Minister Dr.Manmohan Singh evades question on the film #TheAccidentalPrimeMinister pic.twitter.com/IkYeNibGSj

— ANI (@ANI) December 28, 2018

Attacking Congress party, the BJP said, "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?."

The saffron party also tweeted the trailer and asked people to watch the official trailer of 'TheAccidentalPrimeMinister', based on an insider’s account.

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 Jan! pic.twitter.com/ToliKa8xaH

— BJP (@BJP4India) December 27, 2018

Meanwhile, Amit Malviya, In-charge of BJP's national Information & Technology asked why does Congress want to censor a film when the book it is based on was published way back in April 2014?

"Just because fewer people read books than watch a movie? Where are the champions of free speech and expression? Stand up for artistic freedom!," he asked in a tweet.

Why does Congress want to censor a film when the book it is based on was published way back in April 2014? Just because fewer people read books than watch a movie?

Where are the champions of free speech and expression? Stand up for artistic freedom! #TheAccidentalPrimeMinister pic.twitter.com/AzaNyIEkFR

— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) December 28, 2018

However, attacking BJP, Congress MP PL Punia said, "This is a BJP game, they know 5 years are about to complete and they have nothing to show to the people so they are using these tactics to divert attention."

In a letter to the makers of the film, the party's Maharashtra youth wing has raised objections to the 'incorrect presentation of the facts' and has demanded a special screening of the film to ensure that none of the scenes is factually incorrect.

Veteran actor Anupam Kher, who is essaying the role of Singh, said the film is a 'game changer' in political biopics as it does not shy away from taking real names.

Asked if the ruling BJP government, which lost three state elections recently to Congress, would use the film as a tool in the run-up for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Kher said, "If I would have been in politics I would have definitely told them to do so. But I am an actor, they will decide." We did not start the film thinking that this kind of political scenario will be there. It is a political film based on a book, whatever the book has said we have tried to make that," he added. 

Directed by Vijay Ratnakar Gutte, the film is slated to be released on January 11.