BENGALURU:Opposition BJP and JD(S) chided deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar for his attack on Kannada film actors, accusing him of threatening the film industry.
At the inauguration of the 16th edition of Bengaluru International Film Festival Saturday, Shivakumar had hit out at actors for their thin attendance and for failing to participate in the 2021 Mekedatu Padayatra, saying the govt “knows where to turn the screw”.
Reacting to the comments Sunday, opposition leader R Ashoka said, “Film industry is not like Congress party workers whom you [Shivakumar] treat with no dignity. They are not your party workers. Learn to respect actors. Do not expect everyone in society to act as per your wishes.”
Union industries and steel minister HD Kumaraswamy of JD(S) said: “Shivakumar and his party were blessed with 138 seats to run a govt and not to tighten anybody’s nuts and bolts. For those kinds of things, there are many others in society to do the job. Let him run the govt.”
Shivakumar’s own colleagues found themselves in a spot to defend him. “I presume his anguish over film actors not joining him for the Mekedatu Padayatra came out in the open. It cannot be construed a threat. As part of the govt, he cannot threaten anyone in the state. It’s his proximity to the industry that led him to make those remarks,” said actor Umashree, now a Congress MLC and former minister, to a news channel.
But Shivakumar, in Udupi, defended his comments saying he “only spoke the truth”. “They always supported issues concerning our land and water, yet only a few joined the padayatra,” Shivakumar said. “BJP even booked cases against those who participated, including Prem, Duniya Vijay, and Sadhu Kokila. The film festival is meant for the industry, and their cooperation is expected.”