Actor Prakash Raj, speaking at the India Today Conclave on March 31, slammed singer and BJP MP and Union Minister Babul Supriyo for his comments on the violence in Asansol, West Bengal. Supriyo, whose constituency is Asansol, had threatened to ‘skin alive’ those people who shouted slogans against him when he was visiting the place. Asansol was one of the areas hit by communal violence following Ram Navami processions across the state.
“Your leaders are good orators, they keep talking. Today when we are talking about cultural war, we are looking at your behavioural pattern. You know what culture is? All of us are artists here. We need to be more sensitive,” Prakash Raj told the Union Minister.
The actor also spoke about an incident where the 16-year-old son of an imam was beaten to death during the violence.
“Do you know the pain of somebody losing a son? An imam who lost his son in the Bengal riots said don’t communalise the incident. He asked not to spread hatred. That is culture. But not you [Supriyo], who threatened to skin people [sic],” the actor added.
In response, Supriyo said that he had spoken to the imam on Friday and had used the term while referring to some Trinamool workers.
Later, Prakash Raj exclusively spoke to Deccan Chronicle adding more to what he had to say about culture and Supriyo’s statements.
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“India is known for its diversity. A human being in a society is cultured and non-cultured. I had to tell him (Supriyo ) in his own language. But Supriyo continues to inform me that he called the imam to inquire what help could be rendered. Here are two different people in Bengal – cultured and not-cultured, but Supriyo did not get the point. A guy who is in anger talks about skinning people but a man who is badly hurt and lost his son calls for peace. Look at the culture of that man,” he said.
As of now, Supriyo has reportedly been booked for violating prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC and under Sections 146, 147, 148 (rioting) and 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), a non-bailable offence. He is alleged to have assaulted senior IPS officer Rupesh Kumar while on his way to a relief camp in Kalyanpur, Asansol.
Watch the interaction here: