Mumbai: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) has asked the Bollywood to come forward to help distressed families of farmers who have committed suicide due to drought.
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) has asked the Bollywood to come forward to help distressed families of farmers who have committed suicide due to drought. However, the the letter issued by the party warns of strong action against people of the entertainment industry who spend money on parties while neglecting the plight of poor farmers.
The letter issued by MNS leader Ameya Khopkar criticised Bollywood personalities for spending lakhs on parties. The letter states that Bollywood artists splurge lakhs on parties but are blind to concepts such as gratitude and humanitarianism.
“These artists spend lakhs on parties, in fun and frolic. But is seems that their minds are obscured and they are blind to concepts such as gratitude and humanitarian. It would be necessary to black out their films and throw more light in their darkened heads,” the letter states.
Referring to actor Nana Patekar, who recently distributed cheques to the families of deceased farmers, the letter said that not only Marathi artists but people from Bollywood should also set an example and extend their aid.
Ameya said that, however, not everyone in the industry could be called selfish. Citing the examples of superstars Salman Khan and Aamir Khan, Ameya said that their act is indeed laudable, though one would expect some more participation from the film fraternity. Salman Khan runs the Being Human Foundation while Aamir Khan recently donated Rs 11 lakhs to support the Mumbai film festival.
Actors Nana Patekar and Makrand Anaspure had donated a sum of Rs 15,000 each to the families of the farmers from Latur and Osmanabad who had committed suicide, because of the severe drought in Maharashtra.
Nana visited the families to hand over the money by himself. He is also planning to approach the government to join the cause. He has already met 112 widows in Marathwada Beed and now plans to interact with 700 more in Nagpur, Latur, Hingoli, Parbani, Nanded, Aurangabad, Usmanabad, Jalna, Bhusawal, Jalgaon.
