Security beefed up after Jaya trolled

Everyone can’t be painted with same brush, says Sena

The Shiv Sena has come out in support of Rajya Sabha MP and veteran actress Jaya Bachchan for the stand she took in Parliament over allegations of drugs in Bollywood. The Mumbai Police have also beefed up security at her bungalow after she was trolled on social media for her Parliament speech.

Speaking in Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, Ms Bachchan had slammed the BJP MP Ravi Kishan for his allegations of use of drugs in the film industry. Backing her, the Sena too hit out at the allegations saying, “Those who make such claims are hypocrites and their statements smack of double standards.”

Ms Bachchan, in her speech, said attempts are being made to malign the image of Bollywood. She said, “People who made their names in the industry have called it a gutter. Just because of a few people, you cannot tarnish the whole industry... ‘Jis thaali mein khaate hain usi me chhed karte hain.

Galat baat hai’ (they bite the hand that feeds. It’s wrong).”

Supporting her stand, the Sena, in its party mouthpiece Saamana said, “Those who are calling the film industry a gutter are not loyal to it. The Hindi film industry has carved a niche for itself at the international level. But as we have people like Tata, Birla, Narayan Murthy, Azim Premji in the industrial sector, we also have Nirav Modi and Mallya. In Bollywood too, you cannot treat all in the same way.”

A doping test should be conducted on those who claim that all artists and technicians in the film industry are under the influence of drugs, it added.

The Shiv Sena mentioned names of Dadasaheb Phalke, who laid the foundation of Indian film industry, to superstar Amitabh Bachchan, also the husband of Jaya, for taking Bollywood to the pinnacle of success. “There are many who performed their social duties. Sunil Dutt and his colleagues would tour the borders to entertain soldiers, Manoj Kumar always produced patriotic films while Raj Kapoor's films catered to social issues. Even Aamir Khan’s movies are of the same genre. To say that these stars did these works under the influence of drugs is an insult to the country,” the party said.

Meanwhile, security has been beefed up at Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan’s ‘Jalsa’ bungalow after her speech. Mumbai police has provided additional security calling it a precautionary measure.