Attack on SRK puts BJP on the backfoot

he BJP’s misadventure in targeting Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan boomeranged on the saffron party which faced widespread condemnation, including from its ally Shiv Sena, after lawmaker Yogi Adityanath compared the actor with Pakistani terrorist Hafiz Saeed.Khan supported the protests by various sections of intellectuals against the rising intolerance in the country and the curb on the freedom of expression.

“ There should be a debate based on issues and facts. I am saying these people are speaking the language of terror. I think there is no difference in thelanguage of Shah Rukh Khan and Hafiz Saeed,” said Adityanath.“ If the majority community boycotted his films, he would be on the streets like an ordinary Muslim”, he added.Adityanath, known for his provocative speeches bothwithin and out of Parliament, was inspired by the comment of senior BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya who had tweeted on Tuesday that though Shah Rukh lived in India, his soul was in Pakistan.

Sadhvi Prachi, a controversial VHP party leader, had also hit out at Shah Rukh on Tuesday saying he was a Pakistani agent.Self- styled Yoga Guru Ramdev echoed their opinion. “ He should return all his income after he received Padma Shri. It would be better if he deposits his income in PM relief fund if he believes that intolerance is growing”, he said.The controversial remarks of Adityanath, Vijayvargia and Sadhvi Prachi came days after BJP chief Amit Shah warned some party leaders not to make such provocative comments.A red- faced BJP quickly distanced from Adityanath and forced Vijayvargia to withdraw his tweets.

“ The views of Yogi Adityanath do not reflect the thinking of the BJP and the NDA government,” BJP spokesperson Nalin Kohli said.“ There cannot be any comparison of any law- abiding Indian citizen with a terrorist like Hafiz Saeed, certainly not Shah Rukh Khan who is a much loved and respected Indian national and artiste,” Kohli said.Reacting to Vijayvargiya’s remarks, Union Minister MVenkaiah Naidu said, “ The party also does not approve of the comments made by a functionary against Shah Rukh Khan.” BJP ally Shiv Sena did notlose the opportunity to rub in the saffron party. “ This country is tolerant and the Muslims are tolerant as well. Shah Rukh Khan should not be targeted only because he is a Muslim,” Sena MP Sanjay Raut said.The Sena leader slammed Vijayvargia and asked himnot to bring Pakistan into the debate over intolerance,saying that it was India’s internal matter.
Noting that Shah Rukh should have avoided joining the intolerance debate, Raut said the percentage of Muslims was low among those who had recently returned their awards in protest.“ Secondly, out of the people who have returned their awards, the number of Muslims is almost negligible,” he added.Facing flak over his comments on Shah Rukh, Vijayvargiya withdrew his controversial tweets but refused to apologise for his remarks saying that Khan would not have been the most popular actor after Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan had there been intolerance in India.
Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh said the Prime Minister should personally apologise to Shah Rukh for the comments of his colleagues.
Uttar Pradesh’s Urban Development and Minority Affairs Minister Azam Khan said, “ Those who have been targeting Shah Rukh are in fact weakening the nation. They need to know that he is a film star of international repute.

But the RSS and its related organisations disrespect him.
” With inputs from Piyush Srivastava in Lucknow Party spokesperson calls SRK law- abiding citizen Congress leader Digvijaya Singh says PM must apologise to King Khan Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan Attack on SRK puts BJP on the backfoot