Shahrukh lives in India, but his heart is in Pakistan: BJP leader

November 4, 2015

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In response to Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan’s comments regarding intolerance in India, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Kailash Vijayvargiya on Tuesday tweeted in Hindi, “Shahrukh Khan lives in India, but his heart is always in Pakistan.”

Vijayvargiya’s comments come despite recent refrains by top BJP leaders asking party members to avoid making insensitive comments, Times of India reported.

Vijayvargiya is former state minister and BJP general secretary.

He called King Khan’s remarks ‘treason’. “since India was on its way to becoming a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, everyone opposing it (India’s membership), including Pakistan, are hatching conspiracies.” he added.

In a Twitter townhall session earlier this week, Shahrukh Khan had said as a symbolic gesture, he would give up his Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian honour awarded to him in 2005. “Yes, as a symbolic gesture I would give it up… I do think there is intolerance. There is extreme intolerance.”

Khan had also talked about why Bollywood celebrities are not as vocal about issues as their Hollywood counterparts.

“With great power comes great vulnerability,” Khan said, adding, “if I take a stand on an X thing or a Y thing, people will come out and throw stones at my house.”

“Khan’s ‘mantra of intolerance’ was in line with anti-Indian forces” said Vijayvargiya.

“Where was Shahrukh when hundreds were killed in Mumbai in 1993?” he asked. “Where was Shahrukh when the 26/11 attacks happened in Mumbai?”

“Was it necessary to weaken India by portraying it as an intolerant nation at a time when the world was appreciating the country and its leadership?” he questioned.