Actor Rishi Kapoor on Wednesday targeted the Congress for the practice of naming all major assets of the country after the Nehru-Gandhi family during its rule, triggering an outcry from the party.
Congress workers staged a protest outside Mr. Kapoor’s house in suburban Bandra, threw stones at his house, and raised slogans against him over his tweets.
The 63-year-old actor, who in the recent past has been critical of the saffron forces on issues like intolerance, picked the Congress this time. Mr. Kapoor said names of the prominent places should be changed after those who worked for the welfare of the country.
“Change Gandhi family assets named by Congress. Bandra/Worli Sea Link to Lata Mangeshkar or JRD Tata link road. Baap ka maal samjh rakha tha? (Did they consider it family property?).”
In another tweet, he said, “If roads in Delhi can be changed why not Congress assets/property ke naam ? Was in Chandigarh wahan bhi Rajeev Gandhi assets? Socho ? Why? (sic).”
The Kapoor & Sons star said people from the film industry should have buildings named after them.
“Film City should be named Dilip Kumar, Dev Anand, Ashok Kumar ya Amitabh Bachchan ke naam? Rajeev Gandhi udyog Kya hota hai? Socho doston! ” he said.
Mr. Kapoor said even Delhi’s international airport should be named after personalities like Bhagat Singh or Bhimrao Ambedkar.
“Why Indira G airport International? Why not Mahatma Gandhi or Bhagat Singh Ambedkar or on my name Rishi Kapoor. As superficial! What say?” he tweeted.
The actor said his father, the legendary actor-filmmaker Raj Kapoor, has done more good to the country than any politician.
Reacting to Mr. Kapoor’s tweets, Congress spokesperson P.C. Chacko, without naming the actor, said in Delhi it was merely an attempt by some people to get into the good books of the BJP. “This is a cheap game that some people are playing.”
Another spokesperson Manish Tewari wondered if Mr. Kapoor had any role to play in public life. “After Bobby, I have not heard of him. Does he have any role to play in India’s public life.”
Mumbai Regional Congress Committee (MRCC) chief Sanjay Nirupam said Mr. Kapoor has failed to realise the contribution of the Gandhi family to nation-building.
The NCP also took strong objection to Mr. Kapoor’s tweets. — PTI
