In order to make sure that the Goods and Services Tax (GST) is loved by all, the Modi government had played the Big B card. It had made Amitabh Bachchan the brand ambassador of GST, ahead of its implementation scheduled from July 1.
The 74-year-old Bollywood actor shot a 40-second video where he says GST is an unifying force just like the three colours in the national flag.
Now the Mumbai Congress chief, Sanjay Nirupam, who claims to be a big fan of Big B is in trouble for the same ad and probably some unsolicited advise. The Congress leader had advised Bachchan to withdraw from the GST campaign.
"I am suggesting Amitabh Bachchan should not be a party to every foolishness of the BJP. You (Bachchan) are a known person and have a wonderful reputation, which may get maligned if there is a backlash from traders," Nirupam had told reporters in Mumbai.
Nirupam said he suggested this only because he is 'big fan' of the actor.
In response, the actor reportedly told News18 that he only did a few advertisements without charging any money for it.
"The GST was a brilliant idea thought of by the Congress. It is another story that the BJP opposed it all the while it was in the opposition. But after coming to power, it started diluting the basic concepts of the GST, and that was not acceptable to us," the Congress leader told reporters.
This is not the first time Bachchan has taken part in a government campaign. was the face of polio campaign, Swachh Bharat campaign, the brand ambassador for Uttar Pradesh government and Gujarat tourism.
But not everyone was happy with Nirupam's statement.
When television channels questioned him about his advice to Bachchan, the Congress leader said that he is not contesting the fact that the actor is a "respectable character".
However, when Congress leaders were asked about Nirupam's statement, spokesperson Manish Tewari said, "We don't comment on celebrity endorsements. We should wait for the GST's impact on the people after its implementation on July 1."
The Congress party clearly didn't want to be dragged into the controversy.