Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra, who has produced a Sikkimese film, came under attack after calling the hill state insurgency-troubled. She has apologized to the Sikkim government, which wants another apology in more "clear-cut terms".
Netizens on Thursday slammed and trolled Priyanka for being "politically illiterate" after she spoke of Sikkim in an interview to ET Canada, on the sidelines of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). She was discussing "Pahuna: The Little Visitors", her Sikkimese production which premiered at the gala.
Sikkim Tourism Secretary C. Zangpo Bhutia told IANS: "We have received an apology note from Priyanka Chopra for her comments, where she has written 'I tender an apology'. But we are not satisfied. We have asked her to send us another letter in more clear-cut terms."
Asked what the Sikkim government felt about Priyanka's comments, he said: "Whatever she said is totally unacceptable. This has tarnished the image of our state. So we asked her to take back her statement and apologize to us. But as we are not satisfied with her first letter. We are waiting for a fresh note from her."
Priyanka, who now divides her time in the US and India, is yet to issue an official statement.
Her film "Pahuna..." is about three Nepalese children who get separated from their parents, escape the Maoists in Nepal and flee to Sikkim.
Talking about the movie to ET Canada, Priyanka said: "This is a Sikkimese film. Sikkim is a small state in the northeast of India which never had a film industry or anyone who made films from there. And this is the first film ever that's come out of that region because it's very troubled with insurgency and troubling situations."
This remark was widely slammed.
See @priyankachopra-produced, @PaakhiATyrewala-directed PAHUNA: THE LITTLE VISITORS (the first film to come out of Sikkim) today at #TIFF17. pic.twitter.com/cOdGhBSFSA
— TIFF (@TIFF_NET) September 7, 2017
Sikkim government claimed that Pahuna is it's 1st feature film. She just said what they told her. She meant insurgency at border with Nepal
— Kumar (@Kumar_Kaif) September 14, 2017
Infact it is foolish to create controversy on @priyankachopra's statement over #Sikkim as Celebs like her are 'politically illiterate'. 1/2
— Tawqeer Hussain (@tawqeerhussain) September 14, 2017
strongly condemn the statements of @priyankachopra against #Sikkim
— Shubham Tamang (@ShubhamTamang) September 14, 2017
Shame on you #PriyankaChopra
@priyankachopra If you have no idea about Sikkim, don't speak about it then. "Big star"
— YESHI DORJEE BHUTIA (@ydbhutia) September 14, 2017
@priyankachopra U called Sikkim an insurgency affected state.Idiot-God doesn't give everything to everybody.Find better uses 4 ur loud mouth
— Sugato Bose (@BoseSugato) September 14, 2017
#PriyankaChopra says #Sikkim is a troubled state in interview 2 US media. Pea-sized brain, zero homework. Is this how u make money?
— Indira Laisram (@indira_laisram) September 13, 2017
Sikkim had a very evolved art industry with can give Bollywood run for their money @priyankachopra @PaakhiATyrewala
— binita chamling (@BinitaChamling) September 13, 2017
So I just googled and I got this. ~ Category:Films shot in Sikkim pic.twitter.com/6yh77NTBZY
— Karma Bhutia (@iambhutia) September 13, 2017
"Sikkim is one of the most peaceful states, dear Priyanka. We don't have any insurgency here. Please comment responsibly," tweeted Santosh Subban from Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim.
Tawqeer Hussain added: "Celebs like her are 'politically illiterate'. Earlier, many celebs (didn't) know the name of the President of India. So don't expect them to be politically correct."
Biswatosh Sinha, a scriptwriter from Assam, wrote: "Dear Priyanka Chopra, Sikkim is a peaceful place and Pahuna is not the first film from the region. Plz get the facts right."
Incidentally, Priyanka is the tourism ambassador of BJP-ruled Assam.
Directed by first-timer Paakhi A. Tyrewala, the "Pahuna..." was launched as an association between Priyanka and her mother Madhu Chopra's banner Purple Pebble Pictures and Ministry of Tourism Sikkim.
The National Award winning actress, a former Miss World, is a known face globally courtesy American television show "Quantico".
IT WAS A MISTAKE, LET'S BURY IT: SIKKIM MP Sikkim MP Prem Das Rai on Thursday said Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra's comment that the state was insurgency-troubled was a mistake and there was no need to sensationalise the issue.
During an interview at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), where she was promoting her Sikkimese film "Pahuna: The Little Visitors", the National Award winning actress called the hilly state "insurgency troubled". She faced backlash for the comment.
Rai said she should be forgiven.
"She definitely doesn't have her facts correct. Sikkim has been an insurgency free state for three decades but she didn't know that," he said. "She has made some regrets about it.
"She is a star in her own right and Sikkim is a star in its own right. We should bury this issue without sensationalising it any further," he added.
According to Rai, what Chopra said was a mistake and this was not the general perception of Sikkim in mainland India.
"She is travelling internationally is perhaps why she doesn't have much knowledge about what is happening here back in India.
"We should not make a mountain out of a molehill. Yes, she made a factually incorrect statement about an Indian state on the international platform, but everybody makes mistakes. It's okay," he said.
