BBC Documentary Row: Sharmistha Mukherjee, daughter of former President Pranab Mukherjee, came in support of Anil Antony, son of former Kerala Chief Minister AK Antony. Anil had commented in support of the ban on BBC’s documentary ‘India: The Modi Question’ based on the 2002 riots in Gujarat.
Sharmistha Mukherjee tweeted and wrote that the right decision. Even among the so-called advocates of freedom of speech, opinions contrary to one’s own are becoming a thing of the past, if there is a contradiction, it is better to leave the party.
Antony announced his resignation from all party posts by tweeting that he was being pressured by many people “in an intolerable manner” to retract his tweet against the screening of the documentary and related issues. He took this decision because of the Facebook ‘wall’ of hate/abuses.
‘Life goes on’
Anil tweeted, “I have resigned from all my roles in the Congress. People fighting for freedom of speech are making intolerable demands to withdraw the tweet. I refused. Supporters of promoting love have filled my Facebook wall with hate and abuse. This is called hypocrisy. Life goes on,
Right decision. Tolerance 4 opinions contrary to one’s own is becoming a thing of past even amongst d so-called advocates of free speech! But office-bearers of a poll party r expected 2 adhere 2 party-lines & discipline & rightly so. If there’s a contradiction, it’s better 2 quit https://t.co/IX4i4O5wK2
— Sharmistha Mukherjee (@Sharmistha_GK) January 25, 2023
What did Anil Antony write in his resignation?
Anil further wrote that now I have come to know very well that you, your colleagues and your close people are only willing to work with that bunch of sycophants and sycophants who work at your behest without questioning. It has become the sole criterion of merit, sadly we do not have much common ground, he said.
He said that I would prefer to stay away from this negativity and continue my other professional endeavors without getting involved in destructive narratives, many of which are against India’s core interests. I firmly believe that these will eventually end up in the dustbin of history.
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