Anurag Kashyap has hit out at fellow filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar for criticising his decision to question the BJP government on the alarming rise in the incidents of lynchings under their rule. Bhandakar had called Kashyap hypocrite for criticising Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath despite availing the government subsidy while shooting his films in a state governed by the BJP.
Bhandarkar was asked a TV anchor on CNN-News18 about the letter written by 49 prominent personalities including Kashyap against the rise in lynchings of Muslims. Responding to the question, Bhandakar had said, “These people who criticise (Prime Minister Narendra) Modiji and Yogiji are the same people who go and shoot in UP (Uttar Pradesh) and they take subsidies from there. Why do you take subsidies from there. Don;t take that. Why this duplicity? Why this hypocrisy?”
#IntoleranceDebate | These people who criticise Modiji and Yogiji are the same people who shoot in Uttar Pradesh and avail of the subsidies: @imbhandarkar, Filmmaker
Watch #Viewpoint with @bhupendrachaube pic.twitter.com/qEKaZtSLz0
— News18 (@CNNnews18) July 26, 2019
Kashyap wasted no time in responding to Bhandarkar’s criticism for him. Terming Bhandarkar’s observation a joke, Kashyap wrote, “What a joke!! It’s my state. I was born in UP, I grew up in UP. Film subsidies were not started by Yogi ji. He is not the owner of the state , he is the Chief Minister. I might disagree with Modiji but I still am 100 % Indian and I make films in India & will continue to do so.”
What a joke!! It’s my state . I was born in UP , I grew up in UP. Film subsidies were not started by Yogi ji. He is not the owner of the state , he is the Chief Minister. I might disagree with Modiji but I still am 100 % indian and I make films in India & will continue to do so. https://t.co/Yi6b0tjFs5
— Anurag Kashyap (@anuragkashyap72) July 26, 2019
The letter to PM Modi by Sen and 48 others including Kashyap had read, “Dear Prime Minister… The lynching of Muslims, Dalits and other minorities must be stopped immediately.” It went on to add, “You have criticised such lynchings in parliament Mr. Prime Minister, but that is not enough… We strongly feel that such offences should be declared non-bailable…”