Now, 907 artistes bat for return of Narendra Modi government after elections

''It is our firm conviction that the continuance of government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the need of the hour,'' said the artistes including Indian classical vocalist Sitarist Pt Debu Chaudhary and Bharatnatyam dancer Saroja Vaidyanathan.

The new statement has signatories of 907 artistes as against over 600 that flayed the Modi government.

The statement issued under the aegis of 'Nation First Collective' categorically lauded the performance of the Narendra Modi-led dispensation and said - ''We believe that during the last five years, India has seen a government that has delivered corruption-free good governance and development oriented administration. During this period, globally, India has acquired greater respect".
Artists from the fields of literature, music and cinema also appealed to voters to exercise their franchise in general elections and elect the new government without any pressure or prejudice.

''We, creative artistes and persons belonging to the field of literature appeal to all our fellow citizens to cast their vote and exercise their right to elect the new Government without any pressure and prejudice,'' they said.

In clear endorsement of the Modi government, the statement further said - "....when challenges like terrorism are before all of us, we need a 'Majboot Sarkar' and not a 'Majboor Sarkar' and hence we need the present government to continue.

Actor and producer Pallavi Joshi and Vivek Oberoi, Rahul Roy, singer Hans Raj Hans, Voice Over Artists Harish Bhimani and Kishore Bhimani, Film and TV Actor Vijay Patkar, Actress Sushmita Mukherjee and Stand up comedian Raju Srivastava were among the signatories batting for the return of the Modi government.

Recently over 600 theatre artistes in a statement urged citizens to vote "bigotry, hatred and apathy out of power".

The signatories included Naseeruddin Shah, Dolly Thakore, Amol Palekar, Konkona Sen Sharma and Ratna Pathak Shah.