BJP slams Shivakumar for remarks on Kannada film fraternity: 'Does he think actors are Congress slaves?' asks Ashoka

Day 1 at BIFFBengaluru: The BJP and the JD(S) lashed out at Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar’s 'nuts-bolts will be tightened' remark against a section of the Kannada film fraternity, who skipped the opening of the Bengaluru international film festival (Biffes) on Saturday. 

The two parties said the use of such language by the Dy CM was not in good taste.

Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka asked what prevented the KPCC president from tightening the nuts and bolts of Co-operation Minister K N Rajanna, who has been questioning his leadership of late. 

“Issuing threats to artistes like this will not do any good and is most undemocratic,” he said. Ashoka asked Shivakumar to clarify what he thought about artistes. 

“Does he think artistes are slaves of the Congress party? We are missing someone like Ambareesh. Had he been alive, he would have given an apt reply to Shivakumar,”  he said and demanded that the DyCM publicly apologise for his remarks.

Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy said Shivakumar should not forget that people had given his party a mandate to listen to their problems and find solutions to them.

“Let him understand that voters also know how to tighten the nuts and bolts of anyone who crosses the line. Perhaps, power has got into his head. That is why he may be making such remarks,” he said.

“The foot march taken out by the Congress in support of the Mekedatu project was purely a party programme. How can you expect all artistes to take part in such an event? If you had taken out a apolitical rally, everyone from the film industry would have joined,” said BJP legislator Munirathna, a former president of the Kannada film producers’ union.

Noted actor and BJP MP Jaggesh wrote on X that most actors had received invitations for the inauguration of Biffes just an hour before the ceremony. “How can anyone expect them to take part?,” he said.

“Shivakumar sir, the way you have spoken is not right. Many actors were at the semi-finals of the celebrity cricket league in Mysuru. No actor goes to the homes of politicians, but politicians go to actors’ homes during elections. Kindly speak in a manner that hurts nobody, as every actor has a sizable fan following,” he said in another post.