The issue of ‘Pathan’ echoed in Parliament, TMC MP Derek O’Brien said – the film gives a beautiful message

The issue of Bollywood actor Shahrukh Khan’s film ‘Pathan’ was also heard in Parliament on Tuesday. TMC leader and Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien hit out at the Boycott gang, saying the film gives a “beautiful message”. He praised the film Pathan fiercely for this. He praised the making of the film and the people who worked on it, calling them “India’s greatest global ambassadors”. The blockbuster Hindi film ‘Pathan’ had faced controversies and a section of people mainly supporting right-wing politics called for its boycott. However, as per reports, the film has been a huge commercial success.

“You asked him to boycott Bollywood, he showed you a film with a beautiful message,” the Trinamool MP said on the motion of thanks to the President’s address. During his speech, O’Brien criticized the BJP on various issues amid the controversy surrounding the Adani Group. He also attacked the government under the leadership and praised the entire team working hard behind “Pathan”.

“Many congratulations (director) Siddharth Anand. India’s biggest global ambassadors did a great job. Loved who made Pathan. What we couldn’t, Shah Rukh Khan, Dimple Kapadia and John Abraham did,” he said. He has done it for this country.” He said, “We learned from him… don’t mess with India’s biggest global ambassadors. You asked him to boycott Bollywood, he showed you a film with a beautiful message.” The Trinamool MP mistakenly took the name of Dimple Kapadia instead of Deepika Padukone. However, on being pointed out by a member, he rectified the mistake.

The Trinamool Congress leader in the House also alleged that the government has continuously weakened institutions like the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) in the last eight-nine years. He accused the Narendra Modi-led government of using investigative agencies and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) against opposition leaders to “harass the opposition”.

“Of the 5,422 money laundering cases, 98 per cent were reported in the past nine years,” O’Brien said. However, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) targeted only 25 people during the said period, he said. “You cannot make one rule for the opposition and detractors and a different rule for your friends and favourites,” he said. Referring to the Adani issue, he said that big money of the poor and middle class is at risk and it is the job of the government and institutions to play the role of a watchdog.

He said that SEBI also has a preamble and it has been mandated to protect the interests of investors and to regulate the securities market. The Trinamool leader questioned, “Why was SEBI sleeping? Why the inaction?” Shares of Adani Group declined after US-based short seller Hindenburg Research published a report making allegations related to stock rigging and accounting fraud against firms led by Indian billionaire Gautam Adani.

However, the Adani Group has denied all the allegations. O’Brien cited several scams and said the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) needed to think about its anti-corruption slogans. He also targeted the central government on inflation and unemployment. O’Brien alleged that media owners have their own agenda, that’s why they are not raising the voice of opposition.

However, the Rajya Sabha member said that he admires young independent journalists who are still trying to do their best for journalism despite all the pressure from media owners. O’Brien urged the government to introduce the Women’s Reservation Bill in Parliament. They said, “Bring it and we will pass it in two days.”