Partha Chatterjee-Arpita Mukherjee scandal: Anik Dutta: I am not a politician and I don’t need to be diplomatic

Corruption is regularly making front page headlines in Bengal today after the Enforcement Directorate discovered Rs 50 cr cash, gold and property deeds stashed in apartments reportedly belonging to former education minister Partha Chatterjee’s aide and actress-model Arpita Mukherjee. While the sit-in demonstration of School Service Commision applicants crossed 500 days, the former education minister was taken into ED custody. On Saturday, a group of Bengal intellectuals, including actor Rahul Banerjee, Chandan Sen, Debdut Ghosh, filmmaker Anik Dutta, actress Manasi Sinha, Monisha Adak and others, met the press to condemn the alleged corruption in the School Service Corruption scams. They also revealed their plans for further movements. 

At the press conference taking place at Kolkata Press Club, Anik allegedly misbehaved with a journalist, who was representing the mouthpiece of the ruling party. The filmmaker called him an agent of the thieves and pointed out that he represents a newspaper that had the tainted minister as his editor until recently. Anik’s reaction has been criticised widely, not only by the ruling party but also by a large section of the media.

Meanwhile, Anik took to social media to clarify his stand. While answering a journalist’s allegation regarding his 'intolerance' and ‘fascist-like’ behaviour, he said, “I am extremely intolerant towards certain things.” Elaborating further, he said, “Partha Chatterjee was head of this mouthpiece. If they are called thieves, crooks and liars, will that be an insult to the entire journalist community? This guy put a question to me about not being vocal about BJP and insinuated that I was soft on them. Ostensibly to provoke me. I am not a politician and I am not diplomatic. Those who invited me too know that.” 

In the same thread, veteran actress Manasi Sinha supported Anik and said one cannot keep calm when provoked relentlessly. Manasi was also present at the press conference.