BollyParty

In a fresh round of attack on Amitabh Bachchan's family, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray has announced a “ban” on films in Maharashtra which features the superstar and his family members.

The apparent affront was Jaya Bachchan's remark which the MNS perceives to be insulting to Maharashtrians.

“We are from Uttar Pradesh and we will speak in Hindi—Maharashtrians will forgive us,” Jaya, also a Rajya Sabha MP, said at an event in Mumbai to launch her son Abhishek’s movie Drona two days ago.

“All Bachchan family movies and advertisements in Mumbai and Maharashtra are banned from today (Monday),” said Thackeray at a press conference.

“This is an affront to the Marathi Manoos (Marathi-speaking people). All parties should unite and condemn what she said,” said Thackeray.

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“Jaya Bachchan has to apologise or else no film of any member of the Bachchan family will be allowed to release in Mumbai and Maharshtra.”

The party’s diktat applies to films starring Bachchan, Jaya, son Abhishek and his daughter-in-law wife Aishwarya.

“Jaya Bachchan’s comment is a direct affront to Maharshtra. Unless she apologises, no film by the Bachchan family will be allowed. If you are from Uttar Pradesh, go and release your movies there.”

Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh, a friend of the Bachchan family, criticised Thackeray’s statement and said the country had a legal system and “jungle raj” would not be permitted.

Immediately after Thackeray’s statement, police banned from him making public appearances, giving speeches or press conferences.

MNS activists put up posters condemning Jaya comments and booked a train ticket to Allahabad for Jaya Bachhan asking her to leave Maharashtra. "She has no right to live in Maharashtra. She can take this ticket that we have booked for her and go back to Allahabad," said Chintu Sheikh, MNS secretary in Maharashtra

Sanjay Raut, the editor of Saamna, the mouthpiece of Raj’s rival Shiv Sena party, faulted Jaya’s statement but didn’t call for any ban. “If you get fame and success in Maharashtra but still say you are from UP then your loyalty lies elsewhere,” said Raut.

Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray is a friend of Amitabh and in April, at the height of MNS’ anti-North Indian campaign, he had defended the actor. "Amitabh Bachchan is not just star of one particular state, but the superstar of the whole country. Hence, it is improper to drag him into needless controversy of regionalism," Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray said in an editorial in Saamna in April.

The MNS in February 2008 had accused Bachchan of not doing enough for Maharashtra and favouring his home state of Uttar Pradesh.

The party has targeted North Indians in Maharashtra, accusing them of disrespecting the state’s culture and putting a strain on its resources.