The BJP came under fire on Thursday after its official Twitter handle promoted The Accidental Prime Minister, the film on Manmohan Singh. While posting the trailer of The Accidental Prime Minister, the official handle of BJP wrote, “Riveting tale of how a family held the country to ransom for 10 long years. Was Dr Singh just a regent who was holding on to the PM’s chair till the time heir was ready? Watch the official trailer of #TheAccidentalPrimeMinister, based on an insider’s account, releasing on 11 Jan!.”
Riveting tale of how a family held the country to ransom for 10 long years. Was Dr Singh just a regent who was holding on to the PM’s chair till the time heir was ready? Watch the official trailer of #TheAccidentalPrimeMinister, based on an insider’s account, releasing on 11 Jan! pic.twitter.com/ToliKa8xaH
— BJP (@BJP4India) December 27, 2018
This evoked strong reactions from journalists and opposition leaders, with many asking if the BJP had financed the film to extract the electoral advantage in the election year. Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah tweeted sarcastically, “Can’t wait for when they make The Insensitive Prime Minister. So much worse than being the accidental one.”
Can’t wait for when they make The Insensitive Prime Minister. So much worse than being the accidental one.
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) December 28, 2018
Rashtriya Janata Dal tweeted from its official Twitter handle, “Propaganda and Financial Partner- BJP.”
Propaganda and Financial Partner- BJP. https://t.co/YL7x4WDZWf
— Rashtriya Janata Dal (@RJDforIndia) December 28, 2018
Journalist Nikhil Wagle sought to remind that the director of The Accidental Prime Minister Vijay Ratnakar Gutte and his father Ratnakar were arrested for GST fraud. As reported by Janta Ka Reporter, the Directorate General of Goods and Services Tax Intelligence had arrested Vijay Ratnakar Gutte, also a son of sugar baron Ratnakar Gutte for GST fraud worth Rs 34 crore.
Union I&B Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore defended his party’s decision to lend its official support to the film. He was quoted by news agency ANI, “Can’t we extend our wishes for a film? Congress has been all for freedom, why is it questioning that freedom now?”
Manmohan Singh too was asked about the film, but he chose to not answer the reporter’s question.
The film also Akshay Khanna, whose father Vinod Khanna was a BJP MP from Punjab until his death.
Here are some of the tweets targeting BJP and the film:
Sources: Tickets to #AccidentalPrimeMinister will be available at @bookmyshow & all BJP offices.
— Akash Banerjee (@akashbanerjee) December 28, 2018
A string of movies filled with BJP & Hindutva Propaganda will be released 3 months before election
– #AccidentalPrimeMinister
– URI Surgical Strikes
– ThackereyIt’s a desperate attempt for votes but people are sensible enough to keep politics out of fictional entertainment
— Dhruv Rathee (@dhruv_rathee) December 27, 2018
I don’t believe this. @BJP4India actually marketing #AccidentalPrimeMinister
Ha ha#bjpexposed
Pity on this non-ethical party and it’s leaders. https://t.co/hiexULjFYn— Sachin Sawant (@sachin_inc) December 27, 2018
When you dont hve a single truth to tell about yourself, you have to spend crores to spread lies about others. But no amount of malicious lies spread by your well crafted propaganda machinery will divert the country’s attention frm the fundamental issues #AccidentalPrimeminister https://t.co/QXW2kU0YVe
— Mayur Shekhar Jha (@mayur_jha) December 28, 2018