Congress opposing films is nothing new, ‘Andhi’ & ‘Kissa Kursi Ka’ met same fate: BJP

(UNI) The BJP on Friday said the harsh reactions from Congress leaders on the upcoming movie ‘The Accidental Prime Minister’ supposedly based on former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh’s life and career is nothing new.

“These have happened with other films in the past. The film ‘Aandhi’ reflected the times of Indira Gandhi, it was opposed. The film ‘Kissa Kursi Ka’ met the same fate…..Why is Congress becoming intolerant,” BJP spokesman Rajiv Pratap Rudy told reporters here.

He said at the end of the day, the debate relates to a ‘film’ and not a ‘documentary’.

“If anybody has any thing to say on this, it should be former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh,” said the former Union Minister.

Congress leaders, including P L Punia, have flayed the BJP on the episode.

“The film is political, its all part of the BJP game. Five years have gone and it is time for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to give his report card and they are deliberately leading people to talk about all kinds of unimportant issues,” Mr Punia said.

“The film is based on the works of Sanjaya Baru, who was media advisor to Dr Manmohan Singh,” BJP IT cell chief Amit Maliya told a private TV channel.

Mr Malviya also tweeted saying: “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 wrote.

BJP’s Twitter handle also has shared an audio visual capsule on the trailer of the movie, which is set to be released on January 11 next year.

“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,” the message on the micro- blogging site said.

Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit has said the author of the book has been “unfair” to Dr Singh.

“I don’t think anybody should protest…But those people who are portrayed wrongly, they have right to