Actor Amitabh Bachchan is fast becoming the favourite punching bag for politicians in Maharashtra. After Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray slammed Bachchan during his recent anti-North Indian tirade, it is the turn of his uncle and Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray to do the same.
An article, published in Saturday's edition of Sena's mouthpiece Saamna, which is edited by Thackeray, accuses Bachchan of not doing enough for Maharashtra.
The attack on Bachchan signals a volte-face by Thackeray, as he had declared his support for the superstar and ridiculed Raj for his comments only a few weeks ago.
The article cites the example of Tamil superstar Rajnikanth, who participated in the protest by Tamil Nadu against Karnataka over the Hoggenakal issue, even though he hails from Karnataka.
The article states that Rajnikanth is fighting on behalf of his karmabhoomi and even went on a hunger strike to express his solidarity for the Tamil community.
The article goes on to suggest scathingly that Bachchan should take a leaf out of Rajnikanth's book. Raj Thackeray had also accused Bachchan of not doing anything for Maharashtra, and only serving his native Uttar Pradesh.
When queried about the article, a visibly irritated Bachchan asked mediapersons, "Do you think I have not done anything for Maharashtra? If people are not aware of my work for Maharashtra, I don't have anything to say."
Hours after his party mouthpiece dragged Amitabh Bachchan into the Hogenakkal row, Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray distanced himself from the remarks saying it was not his views and that the actor was a 'family friend'.
"Amitabh Bachchan is our family friend. I have neither said anything against him nor written against him in the editorial. The hue and cry which has been created by the media regarding the news in Saamna is condemnable. Our relations with Amitabh are not so weak that it can be broken by electronic media news," Thackeray said in a statement in Mumbai.
Thackeray said the relations between him and the Bachchan family will be unaffected because it is a bond of love.
Additional Reportage: PTI