Deepika Padukone made her support to Congress known in 2011: Smriti Irani over actress' JNU visit

Speaking at an event, Irani, who is one of the BJP's 303 Lok Sabha MPs, said, "I think I would rather know what her political affiliations and than not know. I think that anybody who has read the news knew where you are going to stand, knew that you are going to stand with people who wanted the destruction of India, knew that you are standing people who celebrate every time a CRPF jawan is killed...." (sic)

"I can't deny her the right that she will stand with the people who will beat up other girls who don't see eye-to-eye ideologically in private parts... She actually made her political affiliations known in 2011 that she supports the Congress party...." she added. (sic)

Irani was probably referring to a August 2010 interview where Padukone had said she wanted then Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi to become the Prime Minister as he was working for the youth.

"I don't know much about politics. But Rahul Gandhi is a classic example for what he is doing for the young people. He is doing a lot for the country. And I think hopefully he will become the Prime Minister one day," she had said.

Padukone made a surprise visit to the JNU on Tuesday, two days after the university students including its union leader Aishe Ghosh were attacked by a large number of masked men.

The actress stood in the middle of the Leftist students amid the sloganeering, didn't say anything and later departed.

Of course she was spotted in a frame greeting Ghosh with folded hands.

Following Padukone's visit, several people on Twitter called for a boycott of the actress' film Chhapaak, which released today, with a hashtag #boycottchhapaak.

Also a section of Twitterati lauded Padukone supporting her with #IStandWithDeepika and #ISupportDeepika.