By IANS,
New Delhi : Seeking to dispel media speculation that Congress president Sonia Gandhi was taking up cudgels for the Bachchan family after the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena’s latest attack on it, the party said Thursday that Gandhi was “concerned about the entire film fraternity” and not any particular family.
“Sonia Gandhi is concerned about the entire film fraternity and was not commenting on any particular family” in the wake of the MNS attack, senior Congress leader Margaret Alva said, clarifying media speculation on the issue.
On Wednesday, the party had described as “unfortunate” the MNS’ attacks on the Bachchan family over Samajwadi Party MP and actor Jaya Bachchan’s alleged “anti-Marathi” remarks.
Speaking to reporters after meeting Gandhi Wednesday, Alva had said: “It is an unfortunate development in Mumbai, with language and state being made an issue by certain political parties to divide the people before the general elections.
“Mumbai has always been home to people from all over the country and anyone trying to destroy its ethos is trying to destroy the city itself,” she said.
MNS chief Raj Thackeray had called for a ban on films starring any of the Bachchan family to protest against Jaya Bachchan’s alleged “anti-Marathi” remarks.
Amitabh Bachchan apologised over the remarks, following which Thackeray withdrew the MNS agitation.