Samajwadi Party Rajya Sabha MP and veteran actor Jaya Bachchan became a talking point on social media after a video showed her pushing away a reporter’s microphone during an INDIA bloc protest in New Delhi on October 6.
Bachchan was among the Opposition MPs who took part in a march towards the Election Commission headquarters, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over concerns surrounding the revision of electoral rolls. The march was stopped by police near Parliament Street amid heightened security arrangements.
Jaya Bachchan’s Exchange With Reporter
The incident occurred while Opposition lawmakers were protesting near Parliament Street. A journalist approached Bachchan and reportedly asked her about a poster related to Gyanesh Kumar.
In footage circulating online, Bachchan is seen moving the reporter’s microphone away with her hand before walking on. According to media reports, she also declined to answer the question during the brief interaction.
The moment was captured on camera and quickly spread across social media, drawing attention amid the larger political demonstration.
Video Triggers Reactions Online
The clip prompted mixed reactions from social media users. Some criticised Bachchan’s response to the reporter, while others placed the incident in the context of her previously reported disagreements with photographers and paparazzi.
The latest episode has once again brought attention to Bachchan’s often-publicly discussed relationship with the media. She has previously spoken about her discomfort with photographers approaching her without warning and has distinguished her relationship with professional journalists from her interactions with paparazzi.
Opposition Protest Over Electoral Roll Revision
Bachchan’s interaction with the reporter took place during a larger INDIA bloc demonstration in Delhi. Opposition MPs, including Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, marched towards the Election Commission demanding Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation.
The protest centred on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and allegations raised by Opposition parties regarding the electoral process. Police stopped the march before it could reach the Election Commission headquarters, with several opposition leaders detained during the demonstrations.
The viral exchange has since become one of the most discussed moments from the protest, adding another chapter to the veteran actor-turned-politician’s long history of contentious interactions with members of the media.