My letters on BigB published in newspapers

My letters published on this hype surrounding Mr. Bachchan in newspapers -

The Free Press Journal, March 27, 2010

http://www.dnaindia.com/speakup/report_are-stars-soft-targets-in-a-political-war_1365054

DNA, March 30, 2010

http://www.freepressjournal.in/FPJ/FPJ/2010/03/27/ArticleHtmls/27_03_2010_005_009.shtml?Mode=1

Open Letter to Mr. Bachchan

Bachchan sir,

I am really disappointed with the hostile attitude of the so called "Grand Old Party" of India towards an icon, a face which has represented the country at a global scale. I deeply regret the petty politics which has followed your attendance to the Sea Link event. Being a Mumbaikar I didn't see any reason for you not being fit to be a guest for that event. You are not just a celebrity in the city but more importantly a tax payer from the city and have more right to be on the podium than most of the people sitting there who don't even belong to Mumbai.

I don't think in a Democracy, politicians should monopolize inaugurations of public structures. It is a shame that it has happened in our country and unfortunately in the case of the tallest celebrity of the country who has always been a goodwill ambassador and a face of the country.

The party could have downplayed it but still the fiasco continued in Pune wherein the CM Ashok Chavan suddenly pre-poned his visit by a day avoiding sharing the dais with you and then Ms Sheila Dixit suddenly doesn't showcase AB's audio-video message and forces all his posters to be removed after taking the help of AB to promote the whole event. We on Twitter know how much AB has been promoting the event from the core of his heart.

Bachchan ji, I think there are some things which should be above politics if we need to make this country a better place to live in and dream of becoming a superpower.

Firstly , I feel even if you would have had a political affiliation, it should not have mattered for the ruling party to share the dais with person from the other party, after all even you are a citizen of the city.

Secondly, I feel bad that the party (which always talks about secularism) didn't open their eyes to see that Jaya ji is a nominated RS member by the SP, you Bachchan sir were the tourism ambassador for a BJP governed and a CPI(M) ruled state. And both YOU and AB were attending programmes by Congress CMs respectively.

The latter is fine example of how when it comes to the country, we all forget our religious or political differences and come together of which a prime example have been YOU and your family respectively. This country is going to the dogs if such cheap political gimmicks continue and if a person of your repute can be humiliated so much then just imagine the spate of a commoner!

Regards

Devendra Pai

Mumbai

devendrapai@yahoo.com

P.S. - With you in all times sir

Delhi Tour Jist

Day 1
India Gate
BJP Office
Amit Thaker (BJYM President)
Nitin Gadkari (BJP President)
Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi (BJP Vice President)
Murlidhar Rao (BJP Secy)
Prakash Javadekar (BJP Spokesperson)
Venkaiah Naidu (Former BJP President)
Lok Sabha
Mani Shankar Aiyar (Rajya Sabha MP)


Day 2
Pradeep Jain (Min. of State, Rural Development)
Election Commission
NSUI office
Hibi Eden (NSUI President)
AICC Office
Alka Lamba (Congress Secy)
Ministry of External Affairs
Shashi Tharoor (Min. of State, External Affairs)

Day 3
Sharad Joshi (Rajya Sabha MP)
BBC Office
CSDS

Day 4
Rashtrapati Bhawan
Rajiv Pratap Rudy (BJP Spokesperson)
National Gallery of Modern Art
Satyavrat Chaturvedi (Congress Spokesperson)

Day 5
Qutub Minar
K N Govindacharya (former BJP ideologue)
Ravi Shankar Prasad (BJP Spokesperson)
Indira Gandhi Memorial

Day 6
Purana Quila
Birla Mandir
Planning Commission
Netherlands Embassy

Day 7
Bharatsinh Solanki (Min. of State, Enery)
Manish Tiwary (Congress Spokesperson)
Birla House
Rajya Sabha
NHRC

Day 8
CIC
Prithviraj Chavan (Science and Tech Minister, PMO)