Jaya Bachchan slams drugs in Bollywood claim; Kangana Ranaut hits back
New Delhi : Actor turned politician Jaya Bachchan sharply disproved BJP MP and actor Ravi Kishan's comments in parliament about drug addiction in Bollywood.
"Just because of a few people, you cannot destroy 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," Jaya Bachchan, a Samajwadi Party member, said in Rajya Sabha, referring to Ravi Kishan's statement in Lok Sabha.
Ravi Kishan, who is a popular actor of Bhojpuri films, raised in parliament the drugs-related allegations that have emerged against the film industry in the Sushant Singh Rajput investigations. He alleged a conspiracy by Pakistan and China to destroy the country's younger citizens.
"Drug addiction is in the film industry too. Several people have been detained. 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," Ravi Kishan said in Lok Sabha.
Jaya Bachchan was quoted saying, such statements were meant to divert attention from the state of the economy and unemployment. "The entertainment industry in our country provides direct employment every day to five lakh people and indirect employment to five million people. At a time when the financial situation is in a depressing state and employment is at the worst level, in order to divert the attention of the people, we are being used to be thrashed by social media and the government's non-support. But people who have made their name in this film industry have called it a gutter. I completely disagree.”
Actor Kangana Ranaut, who has been on front-foot with her comments in the Sushant Singh Rajput death case, soon jumped in, questioning Jaya Bachchan's statements. The Manikarnika actress asked if Mrs Bachchan would react in the same manner if her daughter or son were affected.
"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," tweeted Kangana.
"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," Ravi Kishan told news agency ANI.
The NCB is investigating charges of drug-dealing and use based on chats found on the phone of Rhea Chakraborty. Rhea Chakraborty, who is in a Mumbai jail, has been accused of organising drugs for Sushant Singh Rajput.
