PremiumSwastika Mukherjee on Carnival controversy: I took chocolate from our CM, did not take a bribe
The actress lashed out after she was criticised for sharing photos with Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee.
Last Updated: 11.57 AM, Oct 10, 2022
After two years of lull, the famous Durga Puja Carnival in Kolkata took place in full grandeur. Celebrities from different walks of life gathered at Red Road where 92 Puja committees walked with their idols with colourful tableaux, music, and dance performances. Along with other Tollywood celebrities, Swastika Mukherjee also attended the event. And a controversy soon brewed after she posted photographs with the Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee.
Swastika took to her social media handle to post a photograph of her with the CM, sharing, “Met our honourable CM after many years at the #carnival today, a magnificent event hosted by her and what absolutely amazing work by Kolkata Police. Have always admired DIDI’s indomitable spirit and fiery personality. Wished her Shubho Bijoya and got chocolates. Thank you Raj Chakraborty for the clicks, they are cute. It was fun being there with the #Dakhshinpara Durgotsav Committee.”
The actress was criticised for praising the chief minister as Swastika is known for her upright and uncompromising attitude. On several occasions, she went against the current government’s stand and criticised the state.
However, after the attack on social media, Swastika lashed out at her trolls. She took to her social media handle and explained that she went to the Carnival for the first time with a club. “No one has boycotted the Puja considering what was going wrong with the state…
“When I met the CM, wishing her ‘shubho Bijoya’ is part of our culture and civility. She offered me chocolate and I ate them. I took the chocolate and not an election ticket. I ate chocolate, not a bribe. If I meet the prime minister of the country, I will do the same,” she said.
Swastika has been working steadily on national and Tollywood projects. She has appeared in Criminal Justice 3 and her film Shrimati was released recently. She is set to pair with Mir in the film Bijayar Pare, directed by Abhijit Das. She has also completed working in Shibpur with Parambrata Chatterjee.