Bollywood and television actor Sudesh Berry has triggered a conversation after he has drawn fire for his praise of Narendra Modi after saying he is a Vishnu Avatar and very much the Prime Minister of India when he spoke publicly about the Prime Minister of India during a recent public meeting.
Berry told the audience that he has so much respect for Modi and spoke in a very emotional tone when he was speaking. He said he would be willing to “wash Modi ji's feet and drink that water as Prime Minister,” calling Modi the one who did “everything for our country.”
Berry also called Modi an incarnation of Lord Vishnu; he thinks the Prime Minister has been entrusted with the responsibility of serving and transforming the country. His comments were personal in nature as he admired Modi's leadership and governance.
The actor also criticized CJP for playing politics that he argues is not in the country’s best interest. Berry was speaking for himself when he said people should support leaders who are concerned with national development, stability and public welfare.
Sudesh Berry is known for his work in Bollywood movies and Indian television and has appeared in many popular productions over the years. Although he is mostly associated with the entertainment industry, he has voiced his views on social and political matters often, which has attracted attention due to his outspokenness.
His comments have caused quite a few people to debate on the internet. Berry supporters have praised him for not only being honest about his admiration for the Prime Minister but also for what they saw as a patriotic declaration and others said that public figures should treat politics and political issues even more neutrally given how they affect their audience.
Political analysts point out that celebrities' political views are very popular and the public has much attention to them. Actors, sports figures, and the public of all kinds often express personal political opinions and that can bring about wider public discussion and also have different reactions.
Narendra Modi still has people who support him in cinema, sports, business and culture. At the same time, India’s democratic environment is also open to political opinions and criticism from different sectors of society.
The admiration of celebrities are personal opinions and should be taken with an eye towards that, as noted by observers who say. We understand that they are not representing official government positions and party views. But in a democratic world, individuals (including public figures) have a right to express their political opinions and others are equally entitled to agree or disagree.
The comments have also revived a debate about the emerging intersection of entertainment and politics in India. Over the years several actors have been active in politics themselves, campaigned for political parties, or publicly endorsed leaders and policies. So political statements of celebrities are often part of bigger national debates.
Berry's remarks were received differently from social media users. Some welcomed his support for the Prime Minister and people found religious symbolism in political talk to be very problematic. The debate is representative of the different opinions that often come out that political views of well-known people.
Despite the mixed responses, Berry’s comments have once again made clear that a great many of the key public figures’ statements can quickly dominate headlines and shape the public debate. And with India’s future political events likely to have more and more celebrities endorsing them, so will they continue to be a topic of political discussion and public debate as well.
Sudesh Berry's comments represent his views about PM Modi and CJP on a personal basis. They have fueled our national dialogue on leaders, politics and the role of public figures in political opinion in a democratic society.
