Madhya Pradesh home minister Narottam Mishra said film personalities like Shabana Azmi, Naseeruddin Shah, and Javed Akhtar are agents of sleeper cells of the Tukde-Tukde gang. He added that these people only create "rucks" on incidents taking place in BJP-ruled states.
The tukde-Tukde gang is a term coined by BJP supporters to express disapproval of its critics.
Shabana Azmi recently spoke about the release of convicts in Bilkis Bano rape. In an interview with NDTV, she said she has no words for Bilkis Bano except that she is deeply ashamed.
"Shouldn't we be shouting from the rooftops so that justice is done to this person? And the women who are feeling unsafe in this country, women who face the threat of rape every day – shouldn't they get some sense of security? What do I answer my children, my grandchildren?" she further said.
She also joined women's groups and students to protest against the Gujarat government's decision.
After this, the BJP leader alleged that Azmi is not vocal about incidents taking place in Congress-ruled places. He said: "Shabana Azmi did not say anything about Kanhaiya Lal being murdered in Rajasthan or the woman who was burnt alive in Jharkhand."
He added that the Tukde-Tukde gang does not see these at all and it exposes their bad mentality. "How can anyone call them civilised or secular?"
The release of Bilkis Bano's rape convicts and the reception given to them had caused outrage across the nation. Many commoners and celebrities spoke against it.