BJP leader warns actors of I-T raids

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A BJP leader has warned of Enforcement Directorate and income-tax raids against Malayalam film actors who took part in the long march against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in Kochi on Monday.

In a Facebook post BJP leader Sandeep G. Varier, who is popular face on prime time TV channel debates, said that actors, especially female ones, who participated in the march should ensure that they have paid their taxes. In case there are I-T raids for tax evasion tomorrow, the actors should not say that they were being targeted and hounded for taking part in the anti-CAA march, he said.

Mr Varier also mocked those who took part in the march, saying that the “ganja team” that accompanied the actors in the protest would not stand up for them when I-T and ED raids are carried out.

Interestingly, the controversial Facebook post disappeared from Varier’s wall later in the day.

Meanwhile, former Mizoram governor and senior BJP leader Kumanam Rajashekharan slammed the actors and film personalities who took part in the march. “They are not patriots. In whose interests are they staging these protests,” he asked.

Reacting to the criticism director Kamal said,  “Even in the past they have been threatening to send us to Pakistan and the moon. We will not be cowed down.”