War of words continues as Union Minister Piyush Goyal has hit out again at actor Riteish Deshmukh, by pointing out ex-CM of Maharashtra Vilasrao Deshmukh’s conduct following the horrific 26/11 attacks.
Hitting back at Riteish, Piyush Goyal told to the reporters, “I saw Ritesh Deshmukh’s tweet, he said that he went to the place the next day when the incident. I agree with it, but it was horrible since he went with a film producer. Nobody was allowed to enter the high-security area, but he got permission because he was the chief minister’s son. The intentions behind their visit became apparent when a movie came out in 2013. Because it was the CM’s doing he had to resign, the people never forgave him for that.”
Piyush Goyal further added, ”In 2013, the film was made by the same producer, although probably out of Public pressure Riteish did not Feature in the Movie. At a crime scene, only Forensic team and security forces are allowed then why was he allowed to go there, vital clues related to the crime could have been lost,” Piyush Goyal said.
The Union Minister’s comments come after Riteish Deshmukh had taken to Twitter to reply to allegations made by him. Riteish Deshmukh posted on Twitter, “It is true that I had visited the Taj Oberoi Hotel but untrue that I was there while ‘shooting and bombing’ was happening as you claimed. It is true that I had accompanied my father but untrue that he was trying to get me a role in a film. He never ever spoke to a director or a producer too cast me in film and I take pride in that. You have every right to question a CM but it is wrong to accuse someone who is not here to defend Himself. A bit late, && years ago- He would have replied to you.” Riteish said in a tweet.
— Riteish Deshmukh (@Riteishd) May 13, 2019
Piyush Goyal had earlier slammed ex-Maharashtra CM Vilasrao Deshmukh and pointed out that he was only concerned about “getting his child a film role” in the aftermath of the horrific 26/11 terror attacks.
“I am from Mumbai. You might remember the 26/11 terror attack. The then Congress government was weak and could not do anything. The then Chief Minister (Vilasrao Deshmukh) had brought a film producer outside Oberoi Hotel while shooting and bombing was going on inside. CM was concerned about getting his child a film role.” Mr. Goyal said, as per reports.
Vilasrao Deshmukh’s term was marred in several allegations of misconduct on many occasions. Vilasrao Deshmukh was also named in controversies including the Adarsh Housing Society scam, irregularities in allotting land to Subhash Ghai’s Whistling Woods and court strictures for shielding a private moneylender. The high court had observed that agreement signed by the training institute of filmmaker Subhash Ghai was illegal, arbitrary and without the authority of the law. It was also pointed out that Deshmukh misused his official position and illegally signed the agreement papers and gave undue favors to the institute.
History of providing undue favors to the people from the Indian film industry by misusing executive authority only substantiate Piyush Goyal’s claims. Over the past few days, a new trend has been pushed by select media outlets that absolves one of any responsibility for their acts after they are dead, and Riteish’s comments also point towards the same. However, to empower our democracy, the legacy left behind by public office holders should be a part of political discourse and open to critique. India Today in an earlier report had also covered the alleged visit by director Ram Gopal Varma and Riteish Deshmukh which led to a huge political uproar; however it failed to garner adequate traction which it deserved.