India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) senior leader hit out at Bollywood Megastar Shah Rukh Khan for his remarks regarding increasing religious ‘intolerance’ in India.
“Shah Rukh Khan lives in India, but his heart is in Pakistan. His films make crores here but he finds India intolerant,” BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya hit out at the actor in a series of tweets.
“Isn’t this treason? India is about to become a member of the United Nations Security Council. All forces opposing India, including Pakistan, are conspiring against it,” he added.
The BJP general secretary also alleged that Khan’s tune was to sing with Pakistan. “Creating an atmosphere of intolerance in India is part of the conspiracy. Shah Rukh’s tune is to sing with Pakistan and these forces against India. When hundreds were killed in Bombay in 1993, then where was Shah Rukh Khan? When Mumbai 26/11 attack was where Shah Rukh?”
The Bollywood actor had spoken out against increasing ‘intolerance’ in India on Monday, his 50th birthday. Shah Rukh Khan said there was “nothing worse than religious intolerance and that it would take India to the Dark Ages”.
“Our religion cannot be defined or showed respect to by our meat-eating habits. How banal and silly is that,” the superstar said while speaking toNDTV, supporting the many writers, filmmakers and others who have returned awards in protest after incidents of mob attacks over rumours of beef eating and cow slaughter and killings of noted rationalist writers.
However, the former Madhya Pradesh minister’s comment was strongly condemned by his own party members as well as other Indian politicians of rival parties.
“I condemn his comments outright,” said union minister and BJP leader Prakash Javadekar, pointing out that Vijayvargiya is not a BJP spokesperson and so does not speak for the party.
Trinamool Congress leader Derek O’Brien also tweeted saying, “Sickening remarks against @iamsrk by BJP national gen sec also in charge of Bengal. What attitude is this: everyone is bad and only you are good?”
Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal also spoke out in support of Shah Rukh Khan. “We ArE all proud of you.@iamsrk Hope your words help to make a tolerant, inclusive and progressive India,” Kejriwal tweeted.
