I don't mind being called a 'chamcha' of PM: Anupam Kher

New Delhi: Actor Anupam Kher has said that he does not mind being called a 'chamcha' (stooge) of Prime Minister Narendra Modi who works day and night for the country and wondered why children cannot chant slogans in admiration of a Prime Minister. "Why can't our children chant slogans in admiration of our Prime Minister in schools? As children, we used to chant slogans for Lal Bahadur Shastri in our schools. What is the problem? "Here is a man (Modi) who is constantly working day and night, who has enhanced our country's image throughout the world. But they (critics) are trying to find loopholes in each aspect of his work and run him down," he told Rajat Sharma in 'Aap Ki Adalat' on India TV.

Modi is constantly talking about the country and no Prime Minister prior to him ever spoke on women's toilets from the ramparts of Red Fort, he said. On critics describing him as a Modi 'chamcha' (sycophant) Kher said, "I am better off being called a chamcha of Narendra Modi, than a 'balti' of somebody else. They are using this word (chamcha) to put me on the defensive. I am a chamcha of thespian Dilip Kumar and Amitabh Bachchan too." "If you use the word 'chamcha' for admiration, then it is perfectly alright with me, because after a long time we now have a Prime Minister who has brought emotions in me for my country, a man whose career graph is not a fluke, a man who did not enter politics as part of any legacy."

Husband of BJP MP Kirron Kher, the actor ruled out joining politics in the near future, saying he valued his freedom more than joining any political party, according to a release. Asked whether he wanted his wife to become a minister, Kher said she deserves it and it will be good thing if she becomes one.

He also defended his outburst against retired Supreme Court Judge A K Ganguly at The Telegraph conclave in Kolkata, saying the Indian inside him suddenly flared up and told him his statement was shameful. "Ganguly Saheb, with due respect to him, had questioned the manner in which Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru was hanged. I was angry because Afzal Guru was hanged after going through all the due processes of our judicial system, and this statement was coming from a former Supreme Court judge. I told him it was shameful." He called Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi a "reluctant politician" and that politics was thrust on him.