"Is Yogiji only targeting Mumbai's film city": Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is in Mumbai for a two-day visit. Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Wednesday, December 2 challenged him and said that it is not easy to shift Mumbai’s Film City elsewhere even though attempts are being made for it.

While speaking to reporters, Shiv Sena chief spokesperson said, “Earlier, attempts were made. It is difficult to replicate Mumbai’s film industry elsewhere. Mumbai has a glorious film history and past.”

Raut noted that South and Bengal also have huge film industries. Southern superstars Rajinikanth, Nagarjuna, Chiranjeevi have worked in Hindi movies also.

“What is the status of Noida film city now? Can you create Mumbai’s Film City in Lucknow and Patna? Is Yogiji going to those states or only targeting Mumbai?” Raut asked.

Commenting on various other issues, Raut asked the central government to focus on resolving the farmers’ protest against the new farm laws going on at the Delhi borders since last week. “Speak of unemployment, falling GDP and the economy, instead of Shiv Sena’s Hindutva,” he said, referring to BJP’s claim that the Shiv Sena has given up its core ideology.

However, on Tuesday, ahead of Adityanath's arrival in the city, CM Uddhav Thackeray too warned that he will not let anyone forcibly take businesses away from the state, without taking any names.

Taking it to Twitter, Congress leader Ashok Chavan too alleged on Tuesday that the BJP was scheming to take away a slice of Bollywood to the northern state.

Coming back to Yogi's visit, earlier in the day, Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC) bonds worth ₹200 crores were listed on Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE). On Wednesday, December 2 CM Yogi Adityanath visited the BSE and rang the opening bell to mark the listing.

Adityanath had arrived in Mumbai late Tuesday night, on December 2 and it was on his agenda to meet industrialists, bankers and Bollywood celebrities. Actor Akshay Kumar was the first to meet the Chief Minister over dinner and as per sources, they had discussed the potential for film production in UP.