Subhash K Jha (DNA; May 21, 2016)

Rishi Kapoor’s tweets questioning why so many of the national assets are named after the Gandhi and Nehru family, has kicked a hornet’s nest. The actor’s political allegiance is being questioned.But Rishi is no stranger to controversy and is steadfast in his opinion. He explains his stance...

Your comments on national assets being named after the Gandhi family has created a furore.
I am stumped! To be very honest, I never expected this kind of an uproar. I expressed an honest opinion for my fellow Twitterati. Just think about it. Streets and cities are being re-named. So why not change so many of the national assets that are named after one family?

You are being called a BJP man?
That is stupid. I am not pro-BJP. And I am certainly not against the Congress. I am just against a certain policy of the Congress. I have the highest regard for what the Congress leaders have done. I was only making a statement on the tradition of naming national assets after one family. Now people are saying I am against Rajiv Gandhi and his family. Why should I be against them?

Now the Congress spokesperson has stepped in suggesting you’ve contributed nothing to cinema after Bobby?
This is absurd and childish. This is where they’re going wrong. If ill-informed people are going to speak up for the Congress what can we expect? This is like a child throwing a tantrum. Please stop giving my statements a political colour. I had a grouse. Accept it or don’t accept it. People have by and large accepted what I’ve said. Everyone felt the same for a very long time. But no one had the guts to say it out aloud.

What promoted you to speak up?
I am being asked why I didn’t speak up during the UPA government… Arre, it didn’t occur to me then. Is that a crime? Nahin kaha toh nahin kaha. Every city, every yojana has Rajiv Gandhi and his family’s name in it.

You seem to be getting into Twitter controversies quite often?
That’s why my wife doesn’t like me tweeting. But you know what? This time I’m glad I said what I said. I’ve been getting messages and calls non-stop. I want to tell the Congress bhakts I’ve nothing against the Gandhi family. It’s their party misusing their names. Delhi has 64 prominent places named after the Gandhi parivar. Sycophancy ki bhi hadd hoti hai. Why do we need to be reminded of the Gandhi family’s contribution?

What’s the solution?
Rename these national assets. Name these places after J R D Tata, Lata Mangeshkar, Sachin Tendulkar, Birlas…have they not contributed to the nation? There should be a constitutional change. Do not name national assets after politicians. Loyalties change and these assets reflect the loyalty of the part in power.

Any regrets?
None. I said what I had to say. It was an opinion. It was never my intention to trigger off a national opinion. I am reminded of my father’s (Raj Kapoor) song Dil ka haal sune dilwala, Seedhi si baat na mirch masala, Kehke rahega kehne wala... I don’t mince words. I am a tax-paying citizen. I have the right to know why national assets are named after one family. Chori pakdi gayi hai toh aag lag gayi.