By IANS,
New Delhi: The Congress Thursday termed as “legitimate” its party workers’ anger at Amitabh Bachchan’s presence at the Bandra-Worli Sea Link extension’s inauguration since the Bollywood actor was “standing and identifying himself” with Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.
“There is resentment among Congress workers. It is not a resentment against a person or film star. Since he (Amitabh) is standing with the Gujarat chief minister and identifying himself with Modi…. the anger is legitimate,” Congress general secretary Janardan Dwivedi told reporters here.
Dwivedi said Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan has already given his clarification.
Bachchan is out of favour with the Gandhi family and an embarrassed Chavan, who was surprised to see Bachchan at the event Wednesday, tried to steer clear of the controversy by insisting he was “not aware” of the invite.
Mumbai Pradesh Congress Committee chief Kripa Shankar Singh termed Amitabh’s presence as “improper”.
Bachchan is the brand ambassador of Gujarat and reacted sharply to his criticism, saying there was no politics involved in the role.
Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) strongly backed the megastar, saying “the Bandra-Worli Sea Link is a national property and certainly not a property of the Congress party”.
BJP spokesman Rajiv Pratap Rudy said: “Every Indian has a right to be there. Undoubtedly, Amitabh Bachchan is the nation’s pride and a distinguished Mumbaikar who has full credentials to be the chief guest there.”
“It is beyond Indian tradition to invite and then insult,” he said and added that Bachchan could not be a victim of an “internal feud in Congress party, in particular in Maharashtra and in general at the national level”.