Congress Seeks Amitabh Bachchan’s Ouster as Face of ‘Save Tiger’

Congress pushes for removal of Bachchan as ‘Save Tiger’ ambassador, BJP protests ‘vilification campaign’ against him.

Bachchan is Maharashtra’s ambassador for the ‘Save Tiger Project’. (Photo: Yogen Shah)

With actor Amitabh Bachchan’s name figuring in the Panama Papers leaks, the Opposition Congress in Maharashtra sought his ouster as state’s ambassador for the ‘Save Tiger Project’ even as a BJP MLA objected to the ‘vilification campaign’ against the Bollywood megastar.

Till Bachchan gets a clean chit in the Panama Papers case, he should be removed as tiger brand ambassador as well as from advisory panel on the development of part of the Bandra Kurla Complex as International Finance and Services Centre.

Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, Leader of Opposition

Incidentally, Bachchan visited the Mantralaya on Thursday to attend a meeting of the panel. “It would be improper if Bachchan continues to occupy the two posts especially when his name has allegedly figured in the Panama Papers,” the opposition leader said.

The Papers are a leaked set of 11.5 million confidential documents that provide detailed information about more than 214,000 offshore companies listed by corporate services provider Mossack Fonseca.

BJP MLA Yogesh Sagar objected to the ‘vilification campaign’ against a star of Bachchan’s repute. Bachchan, whose name figured in the leaks as allegedly having links with offshore entities in two tax havens, had already denied any connection with those companies, saying his name may have been “misused”. He has also denied any knowledge of the companies to which his name has been linked.

Watch: #PanamaPapers: Who’s Who & What’s What of the Leak of the Century