Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, during the inauguration of the 16th edition of the Bengaluru International Film Festival, at Vidhana Soudha, in Bengaluru, Karnataka, Saturday, March 1, 2025.
| Photo Credit: PTI
A day after Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar expressed his anger over film artistes/ fraternity staying away from the Congress -sponsored Mekedatu protest as well as its thin attendence at the launch of 16th Bengaluru International Film Festival (BIFFEes)-2025 and issued a veiled threat to the industry, his comments attracted condemnation from the Opposition BJP and Janata Dal (Secular), which took exception for such a statement made on the BIFFEes platform.
Taking exception to Mr. Shivakumar’s statement, Leader of Opposition R. Ashok said that the Deputy Chief Minister had used a public platform to threaten the cinema artistes. “It is left to the artistes to whether participate or not participate in the political padayatra organized by Congress. It does not bring honour to your position to tell the artistes that they would get benefits if they go with Congress,” Mr. Ashok said on social media platform ‘X’. “Artistes are no one’s property nor they are Congress party workers. They have the right to identify or remain away from anyone that they want. Come out of the mindset of treating everyone as your slaves and expecting everyone to salute your party. Learn to respect artistes.”
In the presence of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at the inauguration of BIFFES on Saturday, Mr. Shivakumar not only took objection to film fraternity not turning out in big numbers for the padayatra, he also took exception to the fraternity staying away from the BIFFes. He threatened to say “We know how to tighten the nut and bolt”.
Former Chief Minister and Belagavi MP, Jagadish Shettar felt that it was a personal decision of the artistes to come or not, and that it is not good to threaten them. “There is no need to scold them. In the past, late thespian Rajkumar took the lead in the Gokak movement to urge implementation of Gokak report.”
Attacking Mr. Shivakumar, Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy told reporters in Koppal that the Congress has been given 138 seats. “The question on who gives them support or not does not arise. Power is in their hands. Were they given power to tighten nut and bolt of people on the streets? Experts are there to fix it. He should do what is expected of him,” Mr. Kumaraswamy, who was a film producer and distributor earlier, told presspersons in Koppal.
Actor-turned politician Nikhil Kumaraswamy told reporters in Bengaluru: “I assume that all in the film industry are aware of the developments in society. It is their personal choice to join a public movement or not. Some artistes may have not wanted to identify themselves with a political party. He should learn to respect all and leave aside tightening nut and bolt business.”
However, Mr. Shivakumar was unfazed by the criticism of the Opposition. “Mr. Ashok or artistes can speak whatever they want. I have spoken the truth. Let them protest. Those who had said that they would support Karnataka’s land, water and language issues, did not come. In fact, BJP government lodged cases against Sadhu Kokila, Duniya Vijay and Prem, who took part in Mekedatu padayatra,” he told reporters in Udupi.
Meanwhile, Mr. Kokila, who received praise from the Deputy Chief Minister, told a TV channel that it is not true that the artistes did not participate in the padayatra. “it is left to them whether to come or not. The Deputy Chief Minister has said what he has felt.”
Published – March 02, 2025 06:51 pm IST
