Abhishek Bachchan's effigy burnt in Allahabad : Bollywood News : ApunKaChoice.Com


ApunKaChoice.Com	IndiaExpress.Com CricketZone.Com
Set as Homepage \| Add to favorites

RSS

HOME | SCOOP!! & NEWS | BOLLYWOOD

Abhishek Bachchan's effigy burnt in Allahabad
22nd Nov 2006 09.01 IST
By Agencies

Congress Party workers on Monday burnt the effigy of Abhishek Bachchan in protest against his being awarded the prestigious Yash Bharati award by Uttar Pradesh government.

The workers assembled in the Civil Lines area of Allahabad shouting slogans against Abhishek before tearing his film posters and burning his effigy.

The party workers were furious that Abhishek had been given the award when he is not even a resident of the state.

It was nothing but blatant violation of its own guidelines by the state government, they added.

They further alleged that UP Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav was doing all this to gain votes.

Yadav conferred the Yash Bharti Award on Abhishek at a ceremony in Lucknow on Monday.

Amitabh Bachchan , Jaya Bachchan and late Dr Harivansh Rai Bachchan, Abhishek's grandfather, were conferred with the same in 1994 when Mulayam first became the CM and instituted the award.

The award to Abhishek has, however, come under sharp criticism from several noted litterateurs and intellectuals. Mulayam, however, took the critics to task after giving away the award.

“Abhishek has brought immense fame to UP with his contribution to Indian cinema … those pointing a finger at this award are a disgrace to the state… a section of the media has also joined the campaign which is very unfortunate,” he said.

He said Abhishek was an “ideal and a source of inspiration” for millions of youth today.

Abhishek was, however, a picture of humility as he received the award. “Main to is samman ke laayak nahin hoon… lekin Uttar Pradesh sarkar ke aadesh aur Mulayam Singh ji ke aagrah ko main taal nahin saka,” he said. (I do not deserve this award. But I could not turn down the insistence of Mulayam Singh.)

In his brief address, Bachchan had a word of advice for his star son: “I would like to tell Abhishek that this award means more responsibility for him to do more for this state where eight generations of our family have been born.”

Also referring to Abhishek's marriage, he said: “Hum to dulhe ki baraat mein aaye hain… yahaan sehra toh Abhishek ke sir par bandhna hai… lekin wo sehra nahin jo aap log soch rahe hain.”

The Yash Bharti Samman carries a cash award of Rs 5 lakh this year, though earlier the amount was Rs 1 lakh.

Other Bollywood personalities to have received it in earlier years include Raj Babbar , film-maker Muzaffar Ali, Shabana Azmi , Kaifi Azmi, Rajpal Yadav .

Related
Abhishek Bachchan
Amitabh Bachchan
Jaya Bachchan
Raj Babbar
Shabana Azmi
Rajpal Yadav