Amar Singh defends Big B

Mumbai, Feb 2 (UNI) Criticising Maharashtra Navnirman Sena President Raj Thackeray for his alleged remarks against Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan, Samajwadi Party General Secretary Amar Singh today said an artist belongs to a nation and not to an individual state or city.

''His statement is foolish, disgraceful and ridiculous. Bachchan is not only an Indian artist, he is admired internationally,'' the SP leader said while defending the North Indians in general and Bachchan in particular.

Mr Thackeray, during a political programme held here yesterday, had allegedly questioned Bachchan's loyalty towards Maharashtra.

Charging that Mr Thackeray's statement was an attempt to gain cheap publicity, Mr Singh said the MNS did not have any issue, and therefore it was resorting to such stunts.

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