BJP leader lodges complaint against Amitabh Bachchan, accused of hurting Hindu sentiments in KBC

A BJP MLA from Maharashtra on Tuesday filed a police complaint against Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan and the makers of 'Kaun Banega Crorepati 12' for allegedly hurting Hindu sentiments and demanded action.

BJP MLA Abhimanyu Pawar from Ausa in Latur district said in a complaint to Latur SP Nikhil Pingale that action should be taken against Amitabh Bachchan and Sony Entertainment Television on a question asked during a special episode of Friday's KBC.

Pawar, posting a copy of his two-page complaint to the police officer, wrote, "An attempt was made to insult Hindus and create discord between Buddhists and Hindus living in harmony." In this episode, social workers Bejwada Wilson and actor Anoop Soni were on the hot seat opposite Amitabh Bachchan. He was asked a question for Rs 6.40 lakh. Dr. BR Ambedkar and his followers burnt copies of which scripture on 25 December 1927? The options were: (A) Vishnu Purana (B) Bhagavad Gita, (C) Rigveda, and (D) Manusmriti.

Amitabh Bachchan then stated, "In 1927, Ambedkar burned copies of the ancient Hindu book Manusmriti, which ideologically justified caste discrimination and untouchability." Pawar said in his complaint that all four options are related to Hinduism. The motive behind this question was to hurt the sentiments of Hindus.

Pawar, a close aide of Devendra Fadnavis, said, "This question spreads the message that Hindu religious texts are meant to incite enmity between Hindus and followers of Buddhism."

The question of the KBC episode annoyed some netizens who accused the show of running a "leftist propaganda", while others said it hurt Hindu sentiments. Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri shared a clip of the show on micro-blogging site Twitter, claiming that KBC was "hijacked by the Left".