Meena Iyer (BOMBAY TIMES; April 7, 2014)

A Member of the Legislative Assembly, Thane, Pratap Sarnaik has written to the President of India, Pranab Mukherjee, seeking action against a Bollywood contingent of actors and technicians who are scheduled to fly to America for IIFA Awards 2014.

 Speaking to us, Sarnaik said, “The awards night is being hosted in America between 23 and 27 April. These dates coincide with our Lok Sabha elections. I’m told some of the biggest actors and renowned technicians are leaving the country in this period. There are people like Saif Ali Khan and others, who have been conferred with the Padma awards, in this group. How then, can such persons leave, without bothering to cast their vote? Actors are public figures who should lead by example. If they themselves do not exercise their franchise, they are bad role models. Such irresponsible behaviour should be condemned.”

 Sarnaik added, “The election dates were announced with ample notice. Ideally, the organisers should have changed their awards show dates. Or else, the stars who are performing and receiving awards should have impressed upon the organisers the need to change the date; they should have insisted they want to be in India on election day to cast their votes.”

 The MLA further stated, “This is such a serious issue that the passports of those leaving the country for their own monetary gain without casting their vote, should be impounded.”