Entertainment Desk //

The BJP has called for a nationwide ‘Lamp of Blessings’ (Ashirbad-er Pradip) campaign to mark the 76th birthday of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. People have been urged to light lamps at their homes, workplaces, and other locations on Thursday (September 17). West Bengal actress Sreelekha Mitra has expressed her indignation regarding this initiative on social media.

Citing the country’s flood situation and rising prices, Sreelekha described the call to light lamps as a “painful irony.” She also labeled Modi and the ruling party led by him as “authoritarian.”

In a Facebook post on Thursday, the actress wrote that people are being asked to light lamps at a time when their lives are devastated by various crises. In her words, harboring such expectations after making people’s lives difficult is a form of painful irony.

Criticizing the BJP and the government, Sreelekha further alleged that an authoritarian figure or group is wreaking havoc on the lives of ordinary people—destroying property, demolishing homes, and snatching away livelihoods. She also remarked that divisions are being stoked among communities, races, and religions. The actress took a dig at the fact that such groups simultaneously claim to be avatars of Lord Vishnu.

Sreelekha also raised questions about the country’s current social and political climate. She asked where society is heading and what kind of society is being built—one where blind followers are hailed as devotees, while the educated and those holding dissenting views are branded as “intellectual Naxals” (Dimagi Naxal).

According to Sreelekha, in such a situation, fear becomes a tool of governance, and dissent is viewed as an act of betrayal. She described the entire situation as a “grim irony” and a “dark age.”

Meanwhile, Sreelekha’s post has sparked a discussion on social media. Many netizens have shared their views in the comments section, with many agreeing with the actress’s statement.

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