Question PM Modi but don't undermine nation's prestige: Rijiju on Anurag Kashyap row

Joining the list of people coming down heavily on filmmaker Anurag Kashyap for hitting out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the boycott on Pakistani artists, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju on Monday asserted that such "undesirable statements" are not good for the country.

Speaking to the media here, Rijiju said "I don't want to comment and give due importance to such undesirable statements which are not good for the country. We should not react and give importance to such statements which serve the purpose of diverting attention from the real issue at hand".

However, in a clear message to Thakur, the Union Minister said that the Prime Minister is a respected feature in the country and that people should think carefully before commenting on him.

Earlier in the day, Rijiju had taken a harsher stand on the director's statement and said that questioning the Prime Minister has become a new trend.

"A new fashion has developed in India. A student or a film person can put a question or speak against PM without any logic to get into news. In democratic India one can ask questions to PM or comments freely but better if it's with sense & without undermining our nation's prestige," Rijiju said in a series on tweets.

Meanwhile, the Shiv Sena condemned the director's stand and wondered whether the filmmaker was beyond all boundaries of the country.

"Today, the entire country is against Pakistan. Even the Theatre Owner's Association, many of the top most actors like Ajay Devgn has also supported the Army and India's stand. So, why is Anurag Kashyap being different? Is he beyond all boundaries of the country?" quipped Shiv Sena leader Manisha Kayande.

The filmmaker had earlier come out in support of Karan Johar, whose upcoming directorial venture 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil featuring Fawad Khan' is facing trouble after cinema owners association decided to stall the release of movies starring Pakistani artistes.

In a series of tweets by Anurag Kashyap, he questioned the Prime Minister Modi as to why he hasn't apologized for meeting his Pakistani counterpart the same time when Karan Johar was shooting for 'ADHM.'

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

"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," Kashyap tweeted.

After posting an array of tweets questioning the Prime Minister, Kashyap did some damage control by saying, "@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.."

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

This has put an uncertainty on the release of "Ae Dil Hai Mushkil" as it features Pakistani heartthrob Fawad Khan. The movie stars Ranbir Kapoor, Anushka Sharma and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in lead roles.

The decision taken by COEAI mainly covers single screen theatres and comes amid tension between India and Pakistan in the aftermath of Uri attack last month.