Filmmaker Ashoke Pandit on Thursday filed a complaint against actor Richa Chadha over her ‘Galwan says hi’ tweet which has drawn criticism from various quarters. The complaint – filed with the Juhu Police Station in Mumbai – condemns the actor’s tweet as a ‘criminal act’ and calls for a First Information Report (FIR) to be registered against her.
“Richa Chadha has mocked and insulted our security forces, especially those who laid down their lives in Galwan valley. It is a criminal act… FIR must be filed,” the complaint said, according to news agency.
The actor came under fire after she reacted to the statement of Northern Army Commander Lt General Upendra Dwivedi – that the Indian Army is ready to follow government orders on taking back parts of Kashmir illegally occupied by Pakistan.
‘Galwan says hi,’ the actor tweeted, sharing a post on the statement. The tweet has since been deleted.
Her comments provoked the ire of social media and she was slammed for mocking the Indian Army and belittling the sacrifice of the jawans in the 2020 Galwan clash between India and China. She later apologised for unintentionally hurting the feelings of the ‘brothers in the Army’, adding her intention was not to offend anyone.
In a statement, the actor also talked about her family’s connection with the Army, and said her ‘nanaji’ as a Lt Col took a bullet in the leg in the Indo-China war in the 1960s. “My Mamaji was a paratropper. It’s in my blood,” the actor said apologising for the controversy.
She added, “A whole family is affected when their son is martyred or even injured while saving the nation which is made up of people like us and I personally know how it feels. It is an emotive issue for me.”
Meanwhile, the Federation of Western India Cine Employees – a film workers’ union in Mumbai– has also condemned the actor for the ‘most irresponsible statement’ and demanded an ‘immediate unconditional apology’.