Ahmedabad, March 29 (Inditop.com) Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi has hit out at critics of film star Amitabh Bachchan for agreeing to be the brand ambassador of his state, calling them “Talibans of Untouchability”.
Lamenting that the star was being dragged into a controversy, Modi wrote on his official blog: “A great artist with legendary humility and even taller achievements like Amitabh Bachchan who has chosen to celebrate the glorious heritage of Gujarat and her ‘asmita’ (honour) even while facing a lot of criticisms from many quarters is an inspiring matter.”
Modi said that while “Mahatma Gandhi had worked ceaselessly for the removal of untouchability from our social life during his lifetime”, there were some people who “brandishing Mahatama Gandhi’s name, are, in fact busy creating a new viciousness in the flow of our public life”.
He noted that the “anti-Gujarat gameplan” behind the Amitabh controversy stood exposed. “These ‘Talibans of Untouchability’ have lost all their sensibilities in their pursuit of anti-Gujarat attitudes. They may well in future tell us not to eat (even) salt.”
Modi felt that these “Talibans of Untouchability” may “even ban the eating of Amul butter and milk and order our young people not to wear denim jeans! And guess why? Because Gujarat produces these things”.
“Friends, my heart is still unwilling to believe that these Talibans are unaware of the damage they are causing to this nation and to our society.”
He ended with a self-composed couplet, “The one who loves my Gujarat, Is my soul. The one who loves my India, Is my God.”
rounak