File photo of Vivek Agnihotri

Bhopal: Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri was at the center of a controversy on Friday, this one not over his film The Kashmir Files, but for claiming that the term “Bhopali” means “homosexual” in the local parlance.

State congressional leaders blamed him for “insulting” the city and demanded an apology.

A video clip of Agnihotri’s interview on an online channel went viral ahead of his visit to Bhopal on Friday to attend a film festival.

The clip, believed to be three weeks old, shows Agnihotri saying in Hindi: “I grew up in Bhopal, but I am not a Bhopali. Because Bhopali has a different connotation. You can ask any Bhopali. I’ll explain it to you in private. If someone says they are Bhopali, it usually means they are gay, a Nawabi-loving person. Among those who objected to Agnihotri’s remark was Congress leader Digvijaya Singh.

“Vivek Agnihotri ji, this could be your personal experience. This is not the experience of an ordinary Bhopal resident. I have been associated with Bhopal and Bhopalis since 1977, but my experience has not been the same. Corporate influence has an effect no matter where you live,” Singh tweeted.

Agnihotri was also trolled on social media, where many netizens in Bhopal questioned his sweeping comment, which they felt was in bad taste.

Former Minister of State PC Sharma has demanded an apology from Agnihotri, saying Bhopal is known for the cultural heritage of Raja Bhoj, Bharat Bhawan, arts and culture in the city.

Agnihotri committed a crime by using words like “homosexual” for the people of Bhopal, he added.

MP Congress media chief KK Mishra asked if Home Secretary Narottam Mishra would take action against Agnihotri, as in the case of some other film producers who have faced the wrath of the government. State lately.

National Student Union of India (NSUI) workers, led by its Bhopal unit chairman Abhimanyu Tiwari, burned posters of Agnihotri and demanded an apology.

Madhya Pradesh Congress Media Cell Deputy Chairman Bhupendra Gupta called Agnihotri’s remarks insulting to 25 lakh Bhopal residents and demanded that Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan not participate in any public program with Agnihotri until the latter apologizes.

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