'Never Forgive Traitors': Kiren Rijiju Slams Prakash Raj Over 'Nice Joke' Remark
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju lashes out at actor Prakash Raj, calling him a traitor and an ideological Naxal after a controversial "nice joke" comment.
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has launched a scathing attack on actor Prakash Raj, expressing deep indignation over the actor's reaction to a question regarding the alleged mistreatment of a woman police officer. The controversy erupted after a video surfaced showing the actor dismissing a serious inquiry with a laugh and a sarcastic comment.
The Spark of Controversy
The friction began during a press interaction where Prakash Raj was questioned about allegations that a woman police officer had been pushed and shoved. Instead of providing a direct answer or addressing the gravity of the situation, the actor laughed and responded, "Nice joke."
This reaction did not sit well with the Union Minister, who shared the clip on X (formerly Twitter), stating that his anger grew every time he watched the footage. Rijiju accompanied the video with a stern warning about betrayal, writing, "Forgive your Enemies once, Friends twice, but never Traitors."
Accusations of 'Ideological Naxalism'
Going beyond the specific incident, Kiren Rijiju questioned the actor's character and his alignment with national values. In a separate post, the Minister labeled the actor an "utter shameless villain" and accused him of being part of a larger movement to erode the country's heritage.
Rijiju wrote, "This is not our Indian culture! Who is this utter shameless villain?? These ideological Naxals are destroying Indian culture," further emphasizing that such behavior is contrary to the cultural fabric of India.
Broader Political Tension
The clash between the Minister and the actor unfolds against a backdrop of heightened political volatility in the national capital. The atmosphere is further charged by remarks from senior advocate Prashant Bhushan, who has been vocal about the state of electoral democracy under the Narendra Modi-led government.
During a recent press conference, Bhushan addressed the government's claims that the Opposition is attempting a "regime change." Bhushan argued that the primary goal is to protect the democratic process from what he described as "barbarism."
"Regime change is a democratic right of every citizen, and creating disaffection against the government is not an offence," Bhushan stated, adding that a government intent on crushing fundamental rights and electoral democracy cannot be allowed to continue.