The war of words between film maker Anurag Kashyap and BJP-led central government over his film /Udta Punjab /has intensified.
Late on Tuesday night, Kashyap the producer of Udta Punjab, hit out at the Narendra Modi government as well as supporters of the BJP in a series of tweets.
He particularly targeted Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore, saying "I have worked closely with MoS Mr Rathore on censorship issues. And I have all our texts and messages saved so if the govt is trying to make their incompetence look good, then they have picked a wrong person".
All the trolls referring to Paanch and BF and others.. Sorry they had not invented Twitter then you idiots. Fight was the same
— Anurag Kashyap (@anuragkashyap72) June 7, 2016
However much the trolls try to distract.. Fight with censors has always been there.. There was more faith now that was unfounded
— Anurag Kashyap (@anuragkashyap72) June 7, 2016
FYI I have fought the UPA more on censorship issues than the NDA. But you know what , there was no Nihalani then. So the paid trolls can FO
— Anurag Kashyap (@anuragkashyap72) June 7, 2016
And it's pathetic that the party supported and paid trolls are trying to make me look like an agent of congress or AaP
— Anurag Kashyap (@anuragkashyap72) June 7, 2016
Where as I have been working closely with this ministry and the MOS mr. Rathore on the censorship issues
— Anurag Kashyap (@anuragkashyap72) June 7, 2016
And I have all our texts and messages saved so if the govt is trying to make there incompetence look good then they've picked a wrong person
— Anurag Kashyap (@anuragkashyap72) June 7, 2016
& stop taking out list of cuts made for television of my adult films to show as censored portions of my film to prove a non-existing point
— Anurag Kashyap (@anuragkashyap72) June 7, 2016
Earlier on Tuesday, Kashyap had hit out at the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party for "politicising his battle against censorship"
I request Congress, AAP and other political parties to stay out of my battle. It's my Rights vs the Censorship. I speak only on my behalf
— Anurag Kashyap (@anuragkashyap72) June 7, 2016
It's my fight Vs a dictatorial man sitting there operating like an oligarch in his constituency of censor board, that's my North Korea
— Anurag Kashyap (@anuragkashyap72) June 7, 2016
Rest of you go pick your own fights. I will fight mine.
— Anurag Kashyap (@anuragkashyap72) June 7, 2016
So please don't colour my fight with any political affiliation because there is none.
— Anurag Kashyap (@anuragkashyap72) June 7, 2016
Both Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi criticised the BJP government for the CBFC's censoring of Udta Punjab.
The film, which stars Shahid Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor, Alia Bhatt and Diljit Dosanjh deals with the drug menace in Punjab and its nexus with politics and the administration. The ruling Shiromani Akali Dal had voiced its objections to the film saying that it insults Punjab. AAP and Congress have accused the Akalis of being behind the CBFC's action against the film.
The CBFC has gone to the extent of suggesting that all references to Punjab - including the name of the film - need to be removed.
Alia Bhatt who stars in the film also voiced her protest by invoking Nobel laureate Malala Yusufzai.
#UdtaPunjab pic.twitter.com/1T0LIsceyd
— Alia Bhatt (@aliaa08) June 7, 2016
On Tuesday Rathore took on Kashyap for comparing India with North Korea.
"Do you think you are living in North Korea? We can have a vote here, it is a democracy," Rathore said.
This is the tweet by Kashyap he was responding to.
I always wondered what it felt like to live in North Korea .. Ab to plane pakadney ki bhi zaroorat nahin..
— Anurag Kashyap (@anuragkashyap72) June 6, 2016