'UP' in arms: Undeserving Abhishek?

Abhishek Bachchan

Abhishek Bachchan is in the eye of the storm. The Uttar Pradesh government's decision to honour the actor with the state's highest cultural honour, the Yash Bharti, has not gone down well with several political parties, cultural groups and students. Previous awardees include luminaries like his grandfather Harivansh Rai Bachchan and Kaifi Azmi.

Political mileage

Abhishek, who was presented with Rs 5,00,000 as cash prize in a ceremony in Gomti Nagar (Lucknow) yesterday, is the fourth member of the Bachchan family to receive the award. Uttar Pradesh's chief minister Mulayam Singh Yadav has already honoured the actor's parents Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan in previous years.

According to Bajrang Singh, president, Lucknow University Students Union, Abhishek does not qualify for the award. He protests, "Mulayam Singh has converted this award into a private affair. This is an insult to the state. The basic criterion of this award is that it should be given to somebody who has contributed to the welfare of the state. Abhishek has done nothing in that regard."

It is alleged that Abhishek has been given the honour because of his father Amitabh's close ties with the party's leadership. Bachchan Senior has often been seen sharing the dais with Singh and Samajwadi Party secretary general Amar Singh at various political and private functions.

Campaign savvy

Bajrang Singh feels the award is being used for personal gains. He complains, "The fourth award to the Bachchan family is too much. Mulayam Singh is giving away these awards only to ensure the Bachchan family's participation in election campaigns for the Samajwadi Party in the future."

BJP's state union president Kesri Nath Tripthi too endorses, "This award is being given for purely political considerations."

However, the BJP's Shamsher Singh (president, Malad Vidhan Sabha) is more vocal than his senior. He says, "We are against this presentation. The more we are against it, the more Mulayam Singh will ensure that it goes through. Abhishek is getting the award because he is Amitabh's son. Uttar Pradesh goes to assembly polls early next year, and Amitabh will be campaining for Mulayam Singh and his party."

When asked if the student activists are planning to stage black flag demonstrations at the ceremony, Bajrang says, "We have raised our voice. We have not chalked out a strategy on what we'll do, but we will definitely not cause any law and order problem."

As promised, the award ceremony went off without incident in Lucknow
yesterday.