NEW DELHI: Days after over 1,000 artistes signed petitions urging voters to vote against the "politics of hate" against BJP, another set of over 900 artistes, including Pandit Jasraj , Vivek Oberoi and Rita Ganguli, on Wednesday pledged support to PM Narendra Modi and urged people to vote for BJP. They said that the country needs a “Majboot Sarkar” not a “Majboor Sarkar” -- in a clear political counter-move against the previous pro-opposition statements.

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In the new pro-BJP statement, the artistes under the banner of the Nation First Collective appealed to the people to cast their vote without any pressure and prejudice. “It is our firm conviction that the continuance of the government led by PM Narendra Modi is the need of the hour. Besides, when challenges like terrorism are before all of us, we need a ‘Majboot Sarkar’ not a ‘Majboor Sarkar’ and hence we need the present government to continue,” it said.

ICCR chairman and BJP Rajya Sabha MP Vinay Sahasrabudhe said the artistes have a social responsibility but some had indulged in politics of paranoia, so it was natural that others came forward and resonated their aspirations.

Among those who have issued the joint statement are Shankar Mahadevan , Triloki Nath Mishra, Koena Mitra , Anuradha Paudwal , Hans Raj Hans and Malini Awasthi . The joint statement said during the last five years, India had seen a government which delivered “corruption-free good governance and development oriented administration”.



In Video: Lok Sabha polls 2019: Over 900 artists pledge support to PM Narendra Modi