FIR against Amitabh Bachchan, 'KBC' for hurting religious sentiments
What's the story
A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA in Maharashtra on Tuesday approached the police, seeking action against Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan and the makers of television game show Kaun Banega Crorepati 12, which the 78-year-old actor currently hosts.
Abhimanyu Pawar, legislator from Ausa in Latur district, has accused Bachchan and the show's makers of hurting religious sentiments of the Hindu community.
Here are more details.
Controversy
The controversy pertains to a question asked in the show
Pawar told police that action should be taken against Bachchan and Sony Entertainment Television over a question asked during the show's episode, aired on Friday.
The question was: On 25th December 1927, Dr. BR Ambedkar and his followers burned copies of which scripture?
The options were: (A) Vishnu Purana, (B) Bhagavad Gita, (C) Rigved and (D) Manusmriti.
The correct answer was (D) Manusmriti.
Details
It is an attempt to insult Hindus, said Pawar
After announcing the correct answer, Bachchan said, "In 1927, Ambedkar condemned the ancient Hindu text Manusmriti to ideologically justify caste discrimination and untouchability and burned its copies (sic)."
The episode had social activist Bezwada Wilson and actor Anup Soni in the hot seats.
Now, Pawar has alleged that the question and the way it was framed was an attempt to "insult Hindus."
Quote
It could 'create discord between Hindus and Buddhists'
"There was an attempt to insult Hindus and create discord between Hindus and Buddhists who have been living in harmony (sic)," Pawar Twitter.com/AbhiPawarBJP/status/1323480300563787776">wrote, while posting a copy of his two-page letter to the police on his official Twitter account.
Twitter Post
Here is Pawar's tweet
कौन बनेगा करोडपती या कार्यक्रमाद्वारे हिंदू धर्मीयांची भावना दुखावल्याबद्दल तसेच अत्यंत सलोख्याने राहणार्या हिंदू व बौद्ध धर्मीयांमध्ये जाणीवपूर्वक तेढ निर्माण करण्याचा प्रयत्न केल्याबद्दल महानायक श्री अमिताभ बच्चन व सोनी टेलिव्हिजन नेटवर्क विरोधात तक्रार नोंदवली.
— Abhimanyu Pawar (@AbhiPawarBJP) November 3, 2020
1/6 pic.twitter.com/PWnUoWxM2M
Allegations
'Question conveys that Hindu scriptures are meant for burning'
In his complaint to the police, Pawar alleged, "All the four options pertained to Hindu religion. It is clear that the motive behind this question was to hurt the sentiments of Hindus."
He added that the controversial question "spreads the message that Hindu religious scriptures are meant for burning and triggers enmity between Hindus and followers of Buddhism."
Row
The question also divided opinions on social media
The question had triggered a row on social media over the weekend.
A section of viewers accused the show's makers of running a "leftist propaganda," and even called for its boycott.
Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri also put a tweet, saying the show was "hijacked by Commies."
Meanwhile, some came out in support of the show, saying the matter was being exaggerated.