Samajwadi Party MP and veteran Bollywood actor Jaya Bachchan on Tuesday hit out at actor-politician Ravi Kishan for his drug addiction rampant in Bollywood remark in parliament. The actor raised serious concerns over ‘conspiracy to defame the film industry’ and urged the government to protect it from being “flogged by social media”.
In her Rajya Sabha address today Jaya Bachchan took an indirect dig at actress Kangana Ranaut who had earlier called the film industry “gutter”. “People in the entertainment industry are being flogged by social media. People who made their names in the industry have called it a gutter. I completely disagree. I hope that govt tells such people not to use this kind of language.”
Referring to BJP MP Ravi Kishan’s statement in Lok Sabha on Monday, the 72-year-old said, “Just because of a few people, you cannot tarnish the whole industry… I was really embarrassed and ashamed that yesterday one of our members in the Lok Sabha, who is from the industry, spoke against the film industry. Jis thaali me khaate hain usi me chched karte hain,”
Government Should Stand By The Film Industry: Jaya Bachchan
She further reiterated that the entertainment industry provides direct employment every day to five lakh people and indirect employment to five million people.
Urging the government to stand by the entertainment industry, Jaya Bachchan said: “I hope the government tells these people who have made their earning, name and fame in this industry to stop using such language.”
“There are people in the entertainment industry who are some of the highest taxpayers (in the country). They are still being harassed. I think the government must stand by the entertainment industry because it always comes forward to help the government in whatever good work it takes up. They come and speak for them, they support them. If there is a national calamity, they come forward, they give money and their services.
“I need protection, the industry needs the protection and support of the government,” she added
Kangana Ranaut and Ravi Kishan respond
Kangana Ranaut who has been the front runner in bashing and allegedly exposing the Bollywood mafia was quick to respond. Dragging Abhishekh and Shweta Bachchan in the debate, Kangana asked whether she would say the same had her children been affected by the same.
Jaya ji would you say the same thing if in my place it was your daughter Shweta beaten, drugged and molested as a teenage, would you say the same thing if Abhieshek complained about bullying and harassment constantly and found hanging one day? Show compassion for us also ? https://t.co/gazngMu2bA
— Kangana Ranaut (@KanganaTeam) September 15, 2020
Meanwhile, Ravi Kishan also responded to Jaya Bachchan’s upper house address. “I expected Jaya-ji to support what I said. Not everyone in the industry consumes drugs but those who do are part of a plan to finish the world’s largest film industry. When Jaya-Ji and I joined, the situation was not like this, but now, we need to protect the industry,” he said to news agency ANI.
I expected Jaya ji to support what I said. Not everyone in the industry consumes drugs but those who do are part of a plan to finish the world's largest film industry. When Jaya ji & I joined, situation was not like this but now we need to protect the industry: BJP MP Ravi Kishan https://t.co/Ds9CDtVygU pic.twitter.com/tOYtN9Sgp9
— ANI (@ANI) September 15, 2020
Ravi Kishan is a popular Bhojpuri and Hindi actor. On Monday, the actor lauded the NCB for taking swift action in the Sushant Singh Rajput drug probe. “Drug addiction is in the film industry too. Several people have been apprehended. The NCB has been doing very good work. I urge the central government to take strict action against the culprits soon. Give them a befitting punishment and bring an end to this conspiracy by neighbouring countries,” he said in the Lok Sabha on Day One of parliament’s monsoon session.
The Narcotics Control Bureau is currently investigating the drug angle in the Sushant Singh Rajput death case. Actress Rhea Chakraborty who is under 14-day judicial custody is accused of procuring drugs for the late actor. The central agency called her “an active member of a drug syndicate.” Sushant Singh Rajput died by suicide on June 14th.
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