‘Shabana Azmi Tukde Tukde Gang’s New Leader,’ Says Giriraj Singh

The actor responded to Giriraj’s comment with her own tweet, saying that her criticism was not reserved to the BJP.

Union Minister and BJP leader Giriraj Singh has called veteran actor Shabana Azmi the new leader of the Tukde Tukde Gang, a phrase colloquially used by right-wing commentators to refer to those they believe are dividing the nation.

In a tweet bearing a video footage of Azami, Singh on Sunday, 7 July wrote;

“Shabana Azmi is the new leader of tukde tukde (pieces) gang and award wapsi (returning awards) gang.”

शबाना आजमी टुकड़े-टुकड़े गैंग और अवार्ड वापसी गैंग की नई नेता है। pic.twitter.com/reCXGRSZgc

— Shandilya Giriraj Singh (@girirajsinghbjp) July 7, 2019

Singh’s tweet was an apparent response to Azmi’s statement made during an award show a day before.

At an award show in Indore on 6 July, the veteran actor had said that anyone who criticises the government is dubbed as anti-national, reported PTI.

Meanwhile, the actor responded to the Union Minister’s tweet with a tweet of her own, saying that her criticism was not reserved to the BJP and that she had criticised a Congress leader over the murder of playwright Safdar Hashmi in 1989 and has spoken against Triple Talaq and halala repeatedly.

4 d record in Safdar Hashmi murder I took on HKL Bhagat of Congress publicly.I challenged Imam Bukhari on national TV 4 which he called me a naachnewali n was condemned by both Houses of Parliament.Hve spoken against triple talaq n halala repeatedly so who is selective ?

— Azmi Shabana (@AzmiShabana) July 8, 2019

PM Narendra Modi has also used the phrase tukde tukde gang to attack the Opposition Congress during his election campaign, IANS reported.

(With inputs from PTI & IANS)