Make nation 'splendid' before having splendid celebrations: JD (U) tells BJP

With the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) organising a mega event at the iconic India Gate this evening to celebrate two years of NDA government, Janata Dal (United) veteran Sharad Yadav on Saturday said the celebration would have been more apt had the nation become 'splendid.'

"It is not an issue as to who attends the function. It is up to the government to call the people of their choice. They have termed it as a mega show and the show would become splendid only when megastars like Amitabh Bachchan participate," Yadav told ANI.

"The splendor of a show must be there, but only after the nation becomes splendid," he added.

The former JD (U) chief also pulled up Prime Minister Narendra Modi led-government, saying the ruling dispensation at the Centre is just blabbering and no one has been done in reality in the last two years.

The comments from Yadav come in wake of a gala event featuring Bollywood biggies to celebrate Narendra Modi Government's second anniversary celebrations at the India Gate this evening.

The event, titled 'Badhtey Kadam (advancing steps)', to be broadcast on Doordarshan from 5 p.m. today will feature panel discussions with several ministers, celebrities and experts, along with beneficiaries of the government's welfare schemes. Meanwhile, putting all rumours to rest, Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan on Friday clarified that he was not hosting the event at India Gate.

"I am hosting a small segment of government's 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao' campaign. I am the U.N. ambassador for girl child education. I am not hosting the two years of Modi Government event. In fact, Madhavan is hosting it," Bachchan told the media.

The Congress had on Wednesday questioned the Centre's decision of selecting the megastar to host the show, saying it might send wrong signals to the investigating agencies probing the Panama paper leaks.