Cong Flays Bachchan, Alleges He’s Misusing Celebrity Status
Congress has criticized Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan for his decision to become brand ambassador for Gujarat, reported Indian Express.
“Amitabh Bachchan should not misuse his celebrity status and become the brand ambassador for the vested interests,” Rajeev Shukla, AICC secretary and co-ordinator for Gujarat, was quoted as saying.
He also said that state governments were not corporate entities requiring a brand ambassador for improving image, said report.
“Celebrities should shy away from it, as it gives a poor impression,” Shukla was quoted as saying.
He recalled that Bachchan had earlier been a brand ambassador for Uttar Pradesh which had ‘bought electoral disaster’ for the state’s the then ruling Samajwadi Party, report said.
“Only time will tell what will happen to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi,” he was quoted as saying.
P Sudhakar Reddy, AICC secretary in-charge of Gujarat, said that the move was nothing more than an attempt to cash in on the goodwill of the actor, said report.
Following a special screening of Bachchan’s latest film Paa last month, both the actor and the Gujarat CM had emerged great fans of each other. While Bachchan accepted Modi’s invitation to work as the ‘brand ambassador of Gujarat’, the state exempted the film from entertainment and other taxes.
