BOMBAY TIMES (September 16, 2020)

The debate over drug use in Bollywood has now reached the Parliament. On Tuesday, MP and actor Jaya Bachchan raised the issue in Rajya Sabha on how the industry is being defamed. “Entertainment industry provides employment every day to five lakh people and indirect employment to five million people. At a time when the financial situation is in a depressing state and employment is at the worst level, to divert the attention of the people, we are being flogged by the social media and the government’s non-support. The people who have made their name in this industry, have called it a gutter. I completely disagree. I hope the government tells these people, who have made their earnings, name and fame in this industry, to stop using such language,” Jaya said in what is being perceived as a veiled comment on Kangana Ranaut’s statements against the industry. Last month she had tweeted, “If narcotics Control Bureau enters Bullywood, many A listers will be behind bars, if blood tests are conducted many shocking revelations will happen. Hope @PMOIndia under swatchh Bharat mission cleanses the gutter called Bullywood (sic).”

Jaya further added, “There are people in the entertainment industry who are some of the highest tax payers, they are still being harassed. All kinds of promises are made to the entertainment industry, but never kept. The government must stand by the entertainment industry, because it always comes forward to help the government in whatever good work the government takes up.”

On Monday, MP Ravi Kishan said in the Lok Sabha that there is drug addiction in the film industry, where people are seen as role models, and urged the government to take strict action. Slamming his statement, a visibly emotional Jaya said, “Just because there are a few people, you can’t tarnish the image of the entire industry. The industry brings international name and recognition also. I was really embarrassed and ashamed that yesterday, one of our members in Lok Sabha, who is from the film industry, spoke against it. Jis thaali mein khaate hain usi mein chhed karte hain!”