Actor Prakash Raj: What are Amit Shah’s credentials as a leader?

Even though the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Karnataka wing filed a complaint with the chief electoral officer against him on May 1, eminent actor and activist Prakash Raj remains defiant as always.

“Man up, let’s have a dialogue,” Raj told BJP supporters in a Facebook live interview with The Quint, when asked for his response over BJP’s complaint against him for allegedly using derogatory remarks against PM Narendra Modi and BS Yeddyurappa, BJP’s chief ministerial candidate for Karnataka.

“How do you respond to the cry babies?” Raj wondered over the question, adding that “I don’t use derogatory words. I am asking questions on the promises that they (BJP) have made. And they need to answer,” he said before asking BJP supporters, “do you think only you have the rights? You use derogatory words. Your (party) president calls everybody as dogs, cats...this, that…”

“Let the Election Commission come,” the national award winning actor who is on a campaign trial against BJP in the run up to Karnataka assembly elections in the state maintained, adding, “It’s common in politics when they have nothing to say. I am fine with it.”

Asked about his take on women’s safe issue under Modi rule, he alleged: “It’s not just supporting rapists…What happened to 33 per cent women’s reservation bill in the last four years? Even if you are a Governor, you can’t touch my cheeks without my permission. A Governor will say sorry, but the BJP will defame her…she must have slept her way top the top…wash your hands in phenyl. This is their attitude. Women ask questions please. You’re not safe. They have that Manusmṛti in their brain. They want women to be where they are.”

Speaking about his #JustAsking campaign, he said: “Its connected with the current election scenario. I am going to tell them ‘Don’t forget things’ because all politicians especially BJP, divert issues and think people don’t remember. I am doing this job to remind them of the promises that the government made and asking them to ask questions on development. And to tell the government not to seek votes on religion.”

“If the BJP government does not separate religion from the State, India will end up like Pakistan,” Raj remarked.

Responding to the question on Bollywood clamp down, he said: “Nobody is invincible. I’ll reduce my working days. They will find another actor. Another talent will come up…” According to the actor, he hasn’t been offered even a single role in any Bollywood movie since he became a critic of BJP and its top leadership.

“Gauri’s [Lankesh] death disturbed me a lot… She was asking questions. When she was silenced, I felt guilty. Did we leave her alone in her fight? The more I question, the more attempts to silence me, be it (by) character assassination, threat or (by) trying to stop my work… it’s the BJP,” said the 53-year-old actor in another interview to ThePrint.

Questioning the credentials of BJP president Amit Shah’s as a leader, he stated: “Why are we afraid of Amit Shah ji? What are his credentials as a leader? Have you (Shah) given one of the most pathbreaking, progressive ideas to the country? Have you brought the most scientific approach? His strength is he is a Chanakya. He can topple governments. He can win elections… Is this what I need?”

This interview has been compiled from a Facebook live video