New Delhi: Samajwadi Party MP and veteran actor Jaya Bachchan on Tuesday slammed actor-BJP MP Ravi Kishan for defaming the entire film industry, amid the ongoing drug row, on the second day of the Monsoon Session in Parliament.
The BJP MP had raised the drugs-related allegations that emerged against the film industry in the Sushant Singh Rajput investigations in Lok Sabha the previous day.
The veteran actor said that people who rose to fame because of Bollywood have called it a “gutter”.
“Just because there are a few people (doing bad things), you cannot tarnish the image of the entire industry. Jis thaali me khaate hain usi me chched karte hain,” she said in the Rajya Sabha.
She said the entertainment industry was being unfairly hounded and such statements were being made to divert the attention from the sorry state of economy and unemployment in the country. “At a time when the financial situation is in a depressing state and employment is at the worst level, we are being used to be flogged by social media to divert the attention of the people,” she said.
Stating the government must support and not kill it, she said that Bollywood provides direct employment every day to five lakh people and indirect employment to five million people.
Ravi Kishan told news agency ANI that he expected her to support him. “Not everyone in the industry consumes drugs but those who do are part of a plan to finish the world’s largest film industry. When Jaya-ji and I joined, the situation was not like this, but now, we need to protect the industry,” he said.
Soon Twitter exploded and reacted strongly to her statement. Some also came out in her defence.
Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut, who has been in the eye of the storm for having raised the substance abuse problem in Bollywood, responded with a hard-hitting question.
Jaya ji would you say the same thing if in my place it was your daughter Shweta beaten, drugged and molested as a teenage, would you say the same thing if Abhieshek complained about bullying and harassment constantly and found hanging one day? Show compassion for us also ? https://t.co/gazngMu2bA
— Kangana Ranaut (@KanganaTeam) September 15, 2020
Taapsee Pannu, Anubhav Sinha lauded the Samajwadi Party MP for having the courage to speak up the truth.
For we have always stood by the initiatives, causes and awareness campaigns. It’s time for payback. Hitting the nail on its head and how ! ?? yet again a woman from the industry spoke up ?? #Respect https://t.co/CVz1cTlCNw
— taapsee pannu (@taapsee) September 15, 2020
जया जी को सादर प्रणाम भेजता हूँ। जिनको पता नहीं वो देख लें। रीढ़ की हड्डी ऐसी दिखती है। pic.twitter.com/HUbQz8uu9t
— Anubhav Sinha (@anubhavsinha) September 15, 2020
So proud of #JayaBachchan@juniorbachchan u shld be so proud of ur mother today, a lady who had n has the guts to stand up for the entire fraternity..
The fraternity who has always worked hard only to entertain audiences.. Bollywood today is one of the most sought-after industry https://t.co/faGJr77d2E— RiA D’Souza (@RiaRevealed) September 15, 2020
Flogged by social media again:
Not surprised at Ms Jaya Bachchan statement.
Mark my Words- dynasts & those who promote their kids, always speak in same voice of let ecosystem exist & suppress YOUR VOICE ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
Roar.
ISBP.
— Ishkaran Singh Bhandari (@ishkarnBHANDARI) September 15, 2020
Dear @KalyanJewellers and @TanishqJewelry
Immediately remove #JayaBachchan from your ads. Better to give chance to a Fresh Face instead of giving preference to this Old Arrogant Lady.
Lost all respect for Amitabh & #JayaBachchan@swamyfc39#WeStayUnited4SSR pic.twitter.com/N22oZgkc3a
— Aman Verma (@0to3amanverma) September 15, 2020
#JayaBachchan #KanganaRanawat
When Jaya Bachchan supports Bollywood and drugs gang.
.
.
Le bollywood drugs’ gang’- ? pic.twitter.com/xFBLCHom17— aBhi Sharma ? (@Vicodin_500) September 15, 2020
#JayaBachchan kept mum on:
-Palghar lynching
-SSR murder
-Disha murder
-Drug Rackets & Bollywood Mafia
-Demolition of @KanganaTeam home
-Attack on ex-navy officerBut now alleges @ravikishann of exposing pudiyawood as Bollywood is a gutter because?pic.twitter.com/F8k0g3GvU0
— Gaurav Mishra (@Imkgauravmishra) September 15, 2020
According to #JayaBachchan Drugs should be legalised in Bollywood.
That’s why she is opposing Ravi Kishan Ji.pic.twitter.com/LhtfEvkBg7
— ?? राठौड़ ?? (@lokarlorajniti) September 15, 2020
Two Big Names came up in NCB enquiry & there link in Bollywood Drugs dirt are Two influential ladies Zoya Akhtar & Shweta Bachchan Nanda. So the outburst of Jaya Bachchan in Parliament is no surprise. Watchout for this space some more big names will be there too.
— Sameet Thakkar (@thakkar_sameet) September 15, 2020
Jaya Bachchan tells Parliament ‘Bollywood being targeted’;
What she means is not Bollywood but her Husband @SrBachchan
Folks, keep up the pressure and expose these self-proclaimed GODs, show them mirror
— Gaurav Pradhan ?? (@OfficeOfDGP) September 15, 2020
Shows no concern for SSR murder .. and wants protection of druggie Bollywood .. shame on her #JayaBachchan pic.twitter.com/xGKDLaZpPE
— #AllLivesMatter (@ExSecular) September 15, 2020
#JayaBachchan Ji has proved that ‘seniority’ has nothing to do with ‘sanity’. She is trying to defend the indefensible.
Someone please tell Jaya Ji that “Jis thaali mein khaate hain usse saaf rakhna bahut zaroori hai” https://t.co/ykFRI2ng5C
— Madhav Sharma (@HashTagCricket) September 15, 2020
With due respect to #JayaBachchan ji, We disagree with her views in #RajyaSabha on @ravikishann & @KanganaTeam
“Jis thali me khate hai usi me chhed karte hain”
Nobody is trying to defame #Bollywood but clean it from drugs, dope test is must in football, it doesn’t mean defaming
— khemchand sharma (@SharmaKhemchand) September 15, 2020