Ever since actress Richa Chadha made a comment about the 2020 Galwan clash, in which several Indian Army soldiers died, there has been a massive furore on social media, condemning her act.
While the BJP hit out at the actress and demanded legal action against her, filmmaker Ashoke Pandit echoed similar sentiments.
On Thursday, Ashoke Pandit registered a police complaint against Richa even said that he views her comment as "anti-national".
Speaking exclusively to ANI, right after filing the complaint at a local police station in Mumbai, the filmmaker said, "I, as a citizen of this country, am very hurt, and with me, there are lakhs and lakhs of people who have felt hurt looking at the social media...with this obnoxious, anti-national statement of actress Richa Chadha. I strongly condemn it, and I thought as a citizen that I should make a police complaint against her. I have appealed to the police that an FIR should be filed against her, and lawful action should be taken against her because nobody can get away by mocking our security forces. She has mocked the families of the security forces who have laid down their lives at Galwan, she is abusing our security forces."
He added, "So it becomes my utmost duty to file a complaint against her so that action should be taken. And nobody can get away by mocking and making fun of security forces. We respect them, we respect their families."
He also appealed to other members of the film fraternity to come out in public and condemn Richa's comment.
"I think this statement of hers, this mockery of hers should not be taken lying down. And I appeal to my film and television industry to condemn this obnoxious, anti-national act of Richa Chadha. So that tomorrow if the people of this country react against the industry there should be no justifications. As far as condemnation is concerned. I'm sure industry bigwigs will react to this and condemn this statement of hers so that this act from the industry is not repeated anymore," Pandit concluded.
On Wednesday, Richa had reacted to Northern Army Commander Lt General Upendra Dwivedi's statement that the Indian Army is ready to execute any orders on taking back Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
Lt General Dwivedi's statement was made with reference to the Defence Minister's previous address in which he reiterated New Delhi's resolve to take back Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), saying all refugees would get their land and homes back.
Lt General Dwivedi said, "As far as the Indian Army is concerned, it will carry out any order given by the Government of India. Whenever such orders are given, we will always be ready for it."
Sharing the statement, Richa took to her Twitter handle and wrote, "Galwan says hi."
As soon as she tweeted this, all hell broke loose on social media and people started to slam her for allegedly insulting the army by talking about the 2020 clash between India and China.
Bharatiya Janata Party leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa has hit out at Bollywood actress Richa Chadha and demanded a police case be registered against her for her reaction to the Indian Army's statement.
In a video statement released on Thursday, Sirsa said, "Chadha is a third-grade actress in Bollywood. She is known to post objectionable tweets against India. She is a Congress supporter and follower of Rahul Gandhi."
On Thursday, Richa issued an apology statement through a tweet.
Richa wrote, "Even though it can never be my intention in the least if the 3 words which are being dragged into a controversy have offended or hurt anyone, I apologise and also say that it would sadden me if even unintentionally my words have triggered this feeling in my brothers in the Fauj of which my own Nanaji has been an illustrious part. As a Lt. Col, he took a bullet in the leg in the Indo-China war, in the 1960s. My Mamaji was a paratrooper. It's in my blood."
She added, "A whole family is affected when their son is martyred or even injured while saving the nation which is made up of people like us and I personally know how it feels. It is an emotive issue for me."
( With inputs from ANI )
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