Padmavati row: Now Congress’ Shashi Tharoor and BJP’s Smriti Irani fight it out over Bhansali film
New Delhi: After Congress’ Member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor expressed his support for the film, when he spoke on Friday at the Tata Lit Fest in Mumbai, Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Smriti Irani tweeted questioning the former’s support to the controversial movie.
Tharoor criticised the erstwhile royal families of Rajasthan for their vehement opposition to Padmavati. Tharoor questioned their sense of pride and honour when it was being “trampled upon” by the British before Independence. Facing criticism for his attack, Tharoor clarified on social media that he wasn’t opposed to the Rajput community’s opposition to the film.
“Some blind followers of the BJP are spreading false propaganda that I’ve commented against Rajput honour. Speaking against British rule, I discussed those royals that stood by the side of our colonisers,” he said. “Keeping our cultural diversity in mind, I will say fearlessly that it is our duty to respect the sentiments of the Rajput community. Their valour is a part of our history that can’t be questioned. BJP and the Censor Board should respect this,” Tharoor clarified.
The Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Smriti Irani questioning the support tweeted, “Did all Maharajas bend down before the British? What do the likes of Jyotiraditya Scindia, Capt Amarinder Singh and Digvijaya Singh have to say?” she mocked, alluding to the royal lineage of these Congress leaders.
It should be noted that Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari had said on Friday while speaking to a media house that freedom of expression is not absolute and if misrepresented, a community has every right to feel offended.
Even senior Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia advised Tharoor to “brush up” on his history and learn the role the Maharajas played during the British rule.
