New Delhi: Actress Lara Dutta has weighed in on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent controversial speech made during an election rally in Rajasthan. PM Modi had said that the Congress party had pledged to allocate the nation's wealth to the Muslim community. Though PM’s speech didn’t go down well with many netizens calling it “communal”, Lara Dutta commended him for standing firm in his beliefs and said, "In the end, you have to uphold your convictions.”
What Lara said about PM's speech
In a conversation with Zoom TV, Lara reacted to the PM's remarks made at a rally in Rajasthan. She said, "Ultimately, we're all human beings. It's incredibly challenging to appease everyone all the time. Just as actors aren't immune to online criticism, neither is the Prime Minister of our country. We all take it in our stride. You can't constantly tiptoe around issues just to avoid upsetting one side or the other. Ultimately, you have to stay true to your beliefs and convictions. If he has the courage to do so, then kudos. Ultimately, you have to stand by what you believe in."
What PM Modi said
In an election rally in Rajasthan, PM Modi had said, "Earlier, when they (the Congress) were in power, they had said Muslims have the first right to the wealth of the nation. This means they will distribute this wealth to those who have more children, to infiltrators. Should your hard-earned money be given to infiltrators? Do you agree to this?"
This statement was a reference to remarks made by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in 2006, where he mentioned the need for innovative plans to ensure equitable development, particularly for minorities.
Lara Dutta and Jimmy Shergill were promoting their show ‘Ranneeti: Balakot & Beyond,’ while the actress spoke about PM’s speech. Their show is scheduled for release on JioCinema on April 25th.