Shabana Azmi ‘new leader’ of ‘tukde tukde’ gang, actress hits back

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Giriraj-Singh-Shabana-Azmi

MUMBAI: Union Minister Giriraj Singh has called veteran actor Shabana Azmi, who is known to be quite vocal about her views on social and national issues, the “new leader” of ‘tukde-tukde’ and ‘award wapasi’ gang.

He shared a video of renowned actor wherein she can be heard saying, “If we criticise the government we are branded as anti-nationals”, the BJP leader tweeted in Hindi, “Shabana Azmi is a new leader of ‘tukde tukde’ gang and ‘award wapasi gang’”.

In the same thread, a Twitter user posted an old video of Azmi attending a TV debate where Shahi Imam Syed Ahmed Bukhari can be heard making a derogatory remark against her, saying, “I do not want to answer questions by a dancer, singer or a prostitute.”

Hitting back at the Twitter user, Azmi tweeted, “For the record in Safdar Hashmi murder I took on HKL Bhagat of Congress publicly. I challenged Imam Bukhari on national TV for which he called me a ‘naachnewali’ (dancer) and was condemned by both Houses of Parliament. Have spoken against triple talaq and halala repeatedly so who is selective?”

Further, she also quoted couplets from a poem by Faiz Ahmad Faiz, “Bol ke lab Aazaad hain tere Bol zabaan ab tak teri hai… Bol ke sach zinda hai ab tak Bol jo kuch kehna hai keh ley (speak, your lips are free, speak, your tongue is still yours. Speak as truth is still alive, so say what would you like to)”.

Giriraj’s controversial statement against Azmi has come after the actress remarks against the Union government at an Indore event on July 6 where she had said that anyone who criticises the government is branded as an anti-national.

“In the interest of our country, it is necessary that we also point out its shortcomings. But the atmosphere now is such that if you criticise, especially the government, you are immediately branded as anti-national.”