Asansol (West Bengal): Expressing disgust over the issue of nationalism and Pakistan being played up in election campaigns across the country, yesteryear actress and Trinamool Congress (TMC) candidate from this constituency, Moon Moon Sen, said she will talk whenever she feels like to her old ‘friend’ Imran Khan, the Pakistan Prime Minister.
“Imran is a friend of mine. We are not involved in any way, but we do keep in touch. But the kind of divisive politics that is going on (over nationalism with reference to Pakistan) is very dangerous,” Sen told this agency, Thursday.
Asked if she needed, will she again talk to him given the atmosphere of animosity between the two nations, Sen retorted, “Why not? After all, he is a good friend.”
During the late 1980s and 1990s, when Imran was a cricketing hero leading the Pakistan team, Sen was considered to be his good friend, and their friendship was a regular fodder for newspapers, gossip magazines and tabloids.
Asked if she would act as an emissary if the government asks her to be, the daughter of legendary Bengali film actress Suchitra Sen said she would never be assigned such a job.
“No, I would never go on my own to talk to him on political matters and I am sure I would never be asked to do so. There are several astute politicians. Mamata Banerjee is a very astute politician and she would never exploit my friendship with Imran. He has a lot of friends in Kolkata, my husband is also his friend, I am not the only person,” Sen said, adding that she had last met Imran several years ago when he was in the city for an India-Pakistan cricket match.
Asked to comment on Imran’s statement that he believed there is a better chance of peace talks with India and settling the Kashmir issue if the BJP wins the general elections, Sen declined to comment. “I won’t make a comment on this. It’s just a pure political talk and they (politicians) are changing statements every next day,” Sen pointed out.
Sen however, praised Narendra Modi for boosting the image of the country abroad. I think he, as PM, has given us a good image abroad but he had forgotten the issues in his own country,” she stated.
Known to be a giant slayer after defeating nine-time CPI(M) MP Basudeb Acharia in 2014 from the Bankura Lok Sabha seat — a Left stronghold, Sen said the last five years as an MP have been a great learning experience.
“I had made a special relationship with the people of Bankura. Even if I am not contesting from there, people from Bankura have called me and wished me luck,” Sen informed.
An actor with extraordinary oomph in her heydays, Sen declined to attach much importance to her main opponent in Asansol — Union Minister and sitting MP Babul Supriyo – and and termed him a ‘kid’.
“He is just a kid. I think in Asansol, the fight is between Modi and Mamata Banerjee and I am confident about my victory,” Sen asserted.
Replying to the query, whether she would let her daughters Riya Sen and Raima Sen (both actors too) join politics in future, she said it’s ‘up to them to decide’.