NCP targets Modi Govt., says banning artistes "not justified"

Retorting to the controversy hovering over the release of 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil' featuring Pakistani actor Fawad Khan, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Sunday voiced its opinion against the banning of films and said that restricting artistes from doing their jobs is not justified.

NCP leader D.P. Tripathi said that no decent government would restrict the artistes from doing their jobs.

"Banning films, stopping them from release is very wrong. To restrict artistes from doing their jobs again is not justified. And I have said this since the beginning that any decent government would not taken such a step," said Tripathi.

Voicing his support for Karan Johar's 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil' amid the ongoing controversy surrounding the ban on Pakistani artistes, filmmaker Anurag Kashyap earlier lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and questioned him as to why he hasn't yet apologized for meeting his counterpart Nawaz Sharif.

The 44-year-old Bollywood celeb took to twitter to fire a series of questions and vile comments addressing the Prime Minister.

"@narendramodi Sir you haven't yet said sorry for your trip to meet the Pakistani PM.. It was december 25th. Same time KJo was shooting ADHM? Why?", he tweeted.

He further raised questions saying, "@narendramodi Why is it that we have to face it while you can be silent??

"@narendramodi And you actually diverted your trip on our tax money while the film shot then was on money on which someone here pays interest."

"@narendramodi I am just trying to understand the situation because I am actually dumb and I don't get it. Sorry if you feel offended," he said.

Adding, "Btw Bharat Mata ki Jai Sir @narendramodi."

The comments came as a follow-up of his satirical tweet earlier, which read, "The world must learn from us. We solve all our problems by blaming it on movies and banning it.. #ADHM . With you on this @karanjohar."

The film writer-director cum-producer expressed his annoyance on social media after cinema owners association decided to stay the release of movies starring Pakistani artistes.

The Cinema Owners Exhibitors Association of India (COEAI) earlier announced that they would not screen movies starring Pakistani artistes in the four states of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka and Goa.