Tweets by columnist and author Shobhaa De on the controversy regarding mandatory screening of Marathi films in multiplexes has landed her in trouble, with a Shiv Sena MLA demanding apology from her.
De had called Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis 'Diktatwala' and had also made a contemptous remark on Maharashtrian street food.
"Devendra 'Diktatwala' Fadnavis is at it again!!!From beef to movies. This is not the Maharashtra we all love! Nako!Nako! Yeh sab roko!"
"No more pop corn at multiplexes in Mumbai? Dahi misal and vada pav only. To go better with the Marathi movies at prime time."
The tweets prompted Shiv Sena MLA Pratap Sarnik on Wednesday moved a privilege motion in State Assembly on Wednesday against columnist Shobhaa De and demanding an apology from her.
The demand for apology apparently came as a shock to De, who responded with a rather meek tweet on Wednesday: "Now a privilege motion demanding an apology from me? Come on! I am a proud Maharashtrian and love Marathi films. Always have. Always will !"
"We are in the process of enacting a law to make it mandatory for multiplexes to screen Marathi movies during the prime time slot (6-9pm)," Hindustan Times quoted State culture minister Vinod Tawde as saying in the Assembly on Tuesday.
The state government's move was slammed by the film fraternity including De, who said that people have the right to chose what they wish to watch and when.
Even film director Mukesh Bhatt called the decision 'dictatorship' of the state government."It doesn't seem like we are living in a democratic society....," he said.
Netizens lashed out at the government, which has already imposed ban on beef consumption and criminalised sale of cow, bull and bullock meat in the state.
Devendra 'Diktatwala' Fadnavis is at it again!!!From beef to movies. This is not the Maharashtra we all love! Nako!Nako! Yeh sab roko!
— Shobhaa De (@DeShobhaa) April 7, 2015
I love Marathi movies. Let me decide when and where to watch them, Devendra Fadnavis. This is nothing but Dadagiri. — Shobhaa De (@DeShobhaa) April 7, 2015
No more pop corn at multiplexes in Mumbai? Dahi misal and vada pav only. To go better with the Marathi movies at prime time .
— Shobhaa De (@DeShobhaa) April 7, 2015
BMC cant even spend its entire budget to maintain Mumbai but Govt has time to ban beef, dictate movie watching, control tastes! @DeShobhaa
— Satyan (@MurgMakhaniRox) April 8, 2015
Privilege motion against @DeShobhaa is a joke. She has every right to criticize govt decision to block prime slot for Marathi films.
— nikhil wagle (@waglenikhil) April 8, 2015
Reacting to privilege motion against De, twitterati Vishakha Saxena posted a tweet saying "Amazing how Sena's pushing this even as we just scrapped #Sec66A. No lessons learnt. #ShobhaaDe".
Heard this @DeShobhaa ?? #Sarcasm is like Electricity-more than 50% Just dont get it.. Ur VadaPav remark too wasnt understood. All the best — Aiyappa CG (@yaps9) April 8, 2015
There was no dearth of Shobhaa De haters on social media.
Indian's right to freedom of expression is a joke, if privilege motion against @DeShobhaa is not a joke.
— sujla dubey (@sujladubey) April 8, 2015
@DeShobhaa Maharashtra doesn't need love from you. If you have any problem with us then leave this state please. Jai Maharashtra — Bhimashankar (@paramgondbs) April 8, 2015
People who r opposing prime slot for marathi cinema r jealous on the success of Marathi industries this days... ! @MaheshNBhatt @DeShobhaa — ✌Aniket Sarvankar ✌ (@TigerSarvankar) April 8, 2015
@ShelarAshish @DeShobhaa these fake liberals don't know Indian constitution which gives right to states to preserve,promote &protect culture — Kailash Wagh (@kailashwg) April 8, 2015
Marathi has always had a weak lobby.Govt is doing its bit to make a change & it has to face jokes from @DeShobhaa? Sad.
— ashish shelar (@ShelarAshish) April 8, 2015
Shobhaa De probably doesn't understand the ground reality of Marathi movie screening. Just blabbering meaninglessly. — Pradyumna Murhar (@prad_evolution) April 8, 2015
