Author: Express News Service
Publication: The Indian Express
Date: February 4, 2010
URL: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Big-B-as-brand-ambassador--BJP-thrilled--Cong-ruffled/575289
Amitabh Bachchan's acquiescence to become
the brand ambassador for Gujarat has thrilled the BJP-led state government.
The Opposition Congress has, however, taken it with a pinch of salt and disapproved
both Modi and Bachchan's move.
Incidentally, Bachchan had held a special
screening of his latest film Paa for Chief Minister Narendra Modi last month.
In a letter to the state government, Bachchan accepted Modi's invitation to
work as the "brand ambassador of Gujarat". The state government
has said Bachchan will promote tourism in Gujarat as the state's brand ambassador.
On its part, the state government has already obliged Bachchan by granting
exemption from payment of entertainment tax and the like on Paa. This is first
Hindi commercial film to having been so exempted from tax in the Modi government.
AICC Secretary and Co-ordinator for Gujarat,
Rajeev Shukla, however, said in New Delhi: "Amitabh Bachchan should not
misuse his celebrity status and become the brand ambassador for vested interests."
He said state governments were not corporate entities that required a brand
ambassador for image improvement.
"Celebrities should shy away from it
as it gives a poor impression," Shukla said, recalling that Bachchan
had earlier been the brand ambassador for Uttar Pradesh, which had "bought
electoral disaster" for the state's then ruling Samajwadi Party. "SP
lost badly in the state even as Bachchan propagated for it. Only time will
tell what will happen to CM Narendra Modi," he said.
Commenting on the development, AICC secretary
in-charge of Gujarat, P Sudhakar Reddy said the move "is part of Narendra
Modi's gameplan to draw public attention to new things and distract attention
from the ground realities."
This is nothing more than an attempt to cash
in on the goodwill of the prominent actor, Reddy said.
State Health and Tourism Minister Jay Narayan
Vyas said the government stand on the new association was already evident
with the announcement.
