Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Saturday blasted Bollywood star Salman Khan for opposing the ban on Pakistani artistes in India, saying that soldiers guarding our borders face
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Saturday blasted Bollywood star Salman Khan for opposing the ban on Pakistani artistes in India, saying that soldiers guarding our borders face real bullets, unlike film actors.
“Our soldiers don’t have any personal animosity with Pakistan soldiers. The bullets our soldiers face are real and not filmy. Salman gets up after being hit by a bullet,” Mr Thackeray said, reacting to Salman’s remarks, adding, “I have seen Salman’s tube light flicker many a time.”
“I am also an artist and they don’t fall from the sky. Pakistani artistes have refused to condemn the Uri attacks. Why should our artistes speak up for them,” Mr Thackeray added.
The MNS president asked what would happen if Indian soldiers kept aside their arms to hear a Ghulam Ali concert. “Are soldiers our servants They are protecting us,” he said.
Refusing to buy the argument that there was no justification for banning Pakistani artistes since they are not terrorists, Mr Thackeray said, “How does that concern me if they are good. I am seeing only terrorists who come to kill our people.”
Salman had, on Friday, said that artistes from Pakistan should not be treated like terrorists. He said art and terrorism should not be mixed. “Pakistani artistes are just artistes and not terrorists. Terrorism and art are two different subjects,” Salman had said, when asked about his take on banning the actors from Pakistan.
“I have heard that the (Mahendra Singh) Dhoni biopic has been banned in Pakistan. In that case, why can’t we ban Pakistani artistes I do not understand is there dearth of talent in India that we should take artistes from the neighbouring country,” Mr Thackeray asked.
Interestingly, Mr Thackeray is on good terms with Salman and is a regular visitor to the actor’s home during the Ganpati festival.
Meanwhile, actor Ranbir Kapoor, whose upcoming film Ae Dil Hai Mushkil has been targeted by the MNS, said, “I don’t want to sound preachy and like a ‘healer talker’ but we are living in some hard times right now. I hope that you guys don’t get swept away with the bitterness, negativity and violence that’s happening around the world and around us.”
Meanwhile, Akhilesh Tiwari, head of Brahman the Ekta Seva Sanstha, submitted a written complaint to the Saki Naka police and has asked for action against the actor. A police source said the complaint mentioned that Salman had insulted Indian army soldiers by and hence action should be initiated. “No FIR has been registered yet,” he said.
