Now, BJP trains guns on Kerala's cultural icons

KOCHI: After training their guns on the political opponents in the LDF and the UDF, the state BJP leaders have started targeting their critics from the cultural field.

Two well-respected names from the state's cultural sphere, writer and film personality MT Vasudevan Nair and film director Kamal, have come under heavy criticism from the BJP leaders.

If MT faced the BJP wrath for his comments against demonetisation, Kamal came under their attack for his alleged stand against national interests.

BJP leade AN Radhakrishnan, on Monday, said director Kamal should leave the country if he is not able to respect the national interests.

Kamal, chairman of the Kerala State Film Academy, came under the attack of the BJP workers when the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) was being held about a month back. At one of the venues of the international film festival of Kerala, the police had arrested a few youngsters who refused to get up when the national anthem was played. Kamal had objected to the entry of the police into the theatres when the film was being screened.

Going a step further, the BJP leaders criticised the Jnanpith award winning writer MT Vasudevan Nair when he spoke against demonetisation. Attending a book release function, Nair had commented that demonetisation was a Thuglak-like reform.

Reacting to this, some of the state-level BJP leaders said MT (as Vasudevan Nair is popularly called) should restrict his comments to his areas of interest.