Nepalis' stir likely over Hrithik controversy

KOLKATA: The All-India Nepali Bhasha Parishad (AINBP) has asked its one lakh members and 99-lakh strong India-based non-member fellow Nepalis to boycott all Hrithik Roshan films till the cine star renders a public apology for, what they termed, ``insulting Nepal and Nepali citizens''''. In an interview to The Times of India on Thursday AINBP president Rajgopal Bhandari said his organisation would also file a defamatory suit against the star of Kaho Na Pyar Hai as soon as the Calcutta High Court reopens on January 2.``We are preparing the petition after consulting our own lawyers. The suit will be filed probably on January 2 itself,'''' Bhandari said. Nepali people in India would also be asked to hold protest rallies and meetings across the country within the next few days to protest against Hrithik''s alleged statement. According to Bhandari, the younger Roshan insulted Nepal and its citizens in an interview to Star Television. He even remembers the date - December 14. ``In that interview he clearly said he dislikes both Nepal and Nepali people. How dare he make such statements,'''' Bhandari said. Asked whether he had actually seen the programme, he, however, answered in the negative. ``But my friends who saw the programme told me clearly that he had said this. Even Nepali newspapers reported it, thereafter,'''' he said. Both the consul-general Bhojraj Ghimire and his deputy D.P. Bhandari, however, declined to make any comment on the issue, saying it was a diplomatic matter that was best left to Delhi and Kathmandu. ``Please do not ask me any questions in this regard. In fact I would prefer if you discussed the matter with Bhasha Parishad members outside the consulate premises,'''' the embarrassed consul told mediamen. The Nepal consulate premises in Alipore was filled with guests including the members of various consulate offices in the city on Thursday evening. They had assembled to celebrate King Birendra''s birthday.