Union Minister for Heavy Industries Vilasrao Deshmukh on Thursday said he will not share dais with megastar Amitabh Bachchan as long as he is Gujarat's brand ambassador.
"We will not share dais with Amitabh as long as he is Gujarat's brand ambassador. Bachchan is representing Gujarat, where Godhara riots took place and this has not gone down well the Congress workers," Deshmukh told reporters.
Deshmukh along with the former Governor of Madhya Pradesh Balram Jakhar was here to take part in the birthday celebration of former state Congress President, Subhash Yadav. Yadav's son Arun Yadav is Deshmuk's deputy in the Heavy Industries Ministry. "Because of Godhra, workers are unhappy with the Gujarat Government. It is not a question of avoiding Amitabh, but respecting party workers' wishes," Deshmukh said.
"We will maintain distance with Amitabh as long as he remains the brand ambassador of Gujarat," he added.
The actor has been at the receiving end of Congress s criticism ever since he shared dais with Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan during an inauguration function at the Bandra-Worli Sea Link last month. PTI
