Raj Thackeray takes swipe at Madhavan, Vivek Oberoi for govt praise: ‘Why live in Dubai?’
MNS leader questions why actors who publicly praise the Modi government prefer to live overseas and accuses the BJP of fostering a culture of online abuse
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray took aim at actors Vivek Oberoi and R Madhavan, questioning why they chose to live in Dubai despite publicly praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government.
Addressing a gathering organised by the Maharashtra Navnirman Vidyarthi Sena, the student wing of the MNS, in Mumbai, Thackeray said those who claim that India has progressed significantly under the Modi government should explain why they prefer to settle overseas.
Referring to Vivek Oberoi, who portrayed Modi in the 2019 biographical film PM Narendra Modi, Thackeray remarked that the actor now lives in Dubai. He also cited Madhavan, asking why someone who has spoken positively about the Prime Minister resides outside India if he believes the country has become a better place to live.
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"If everything is so good in India and the country is developing rapidly, why are they living in Dubai with their families?" Thackeray asked.
He further alleged that some actors return to India only to work in films backed by the establishment before going back abroad.
Both actors have previously explained their reasons for relocating. Madhavan has said he moved to Dubai during the Covid-19 pandemic to support his son's professional swimming career, while Oberoi has maintained that he shifted there primarily to expand his business interests.
Remarks on abusive language
Thackeray also commented on the controversy surrounding abusive remarks directed at Prime Minister Modi during the Cockroach Janta Party-led (CJP) protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar.
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He agreed with the Prime Minister's recent appeal for restraint, saying that the language used against Modi was unacceptable. However, he argued that the same standards should apply to members and supporters of the BJP. "I agree that such language should not be used. But the Prime Minister should also tell people in his own party to stop using abusive language," Thackeray said.
According to him, BJP's online supporters have routinely targeted political leaders and public figures, including Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and members of the Thackeray family. He claimed that many actors avoid expressing political opinions publicly due to fear of online trolling.
"As you sow, so shall you reap," he said, alleging that BJP's troll culture had contributed to the coarsening of political discourse.