With his remark that “the Indian government should provide security to actor Shah Rukh Khan” kicking up a controversy in India, Pakistan’s Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Tuesday modified his statement.
In a tweet posted towards the evening, he said: “Shah Rukh Khan is equally famous in Pakistan and India. I am sure that threats to him are being handled as per the relevant Indian law.”
The tweet was posted after Home Secretary R.K. Singh said India was capable of looking after its own people and Mr. Malik should worry about the security of Pakistani citizens.
In an interaction with journalists at a reception hosted by the Indian High Commission on Monday evening to mark Republic Day, Mr. Malik said in response to a query regarding the actor’s narrative on “Being a Khan” that: “He was born Indian and would like to remain Indian but I will request the Government of India to please provide him security. I would like to request all Indian brothers and sisters and all those who are talking in a negative way about Shah Rukh that they should know he is a movie star.”
Earlier, as reports appeared in a section of the media about Shah Rukh Khan’s article, Jamat-ud-Da’wah chief Hafiz Saeed had said the actor was welcome to move to Pakistan if he was being persecuted for his faith in India. “We want to expose the real, deceptive, fraudulent and Islamophobic face of India on its Republic Day. It is by no means a secular democracy. If a person like Shah Rukh Khan is being subjected to such religious persecution by extremists, then who else among Muslims will feel safe?” he said in tweets.
In an Outlook-New York Times limited edition issue, the actor wrote he had sometimes “become the inadvertent object of political leaders who choose to make me a symbol of all that they think is wrong and unpatriotic about Muslims in India.” Further, he wrote: “I named my son and daughter with names that could pass of as generic: Aryan and Suhana. The Khan is borrowed from me so that can’t really escape it… I imagine this will prevent my offspring from receiving unwarranted eviction orders and random fatwas in the future.”
This apart, the article has more about his travails at U.S. airports because of his name — experiences that resulted in him making the movie My Name is Khan (And I’m Not A Terrorist).
“So I am a Khan, but no stereotype image touches my idea of who I am. Instead the living of my life has enabled me to be deeply touched by the love of millions of Indians. I have felt this love for the last 20 years regardless of the fact that my community is a minority within the population of India.”
Keywords: India-Pak ties, Rehman Malik, Shah Rukh Khan, R.K. Singh
What an irony Pakistan interior minister is speaking like a Indian Home minister and Indian Home minster is speaking like a Pakistan Inerior minster.
People are working hard for finding some work for the Media guys.
Such is the way of aman ki asha at the expense of headless dead soilders, enjoy the show...:)
Mr. Malik comes through as being dense in matters of international affairs. Clearly it must have not occurred to him that his wholly misplaced concern for an Indian citizen is as unnecessary and plainly stupid as his homliy is oleaginous.
I feel Shah Rukh Khan should not have made a remark like that. Why react
to comments of political leaders who look for their own political
mileage while criticising others? Pakistan's political leaders who can
achieve nothing in their own country jump at any chance of needling our
country's leadership.
Mr. Shah Rukh should have been more discreet when chose to air his views. He has been treated honourably and has done extremely well for himself as a private citizen and a public figure.Mr.Rehman Malik not known for his discretion in choosing the occasion or the chance has seized the opportunity provided by Shah Rukh to deride India. The India baiter Mr.Hafeez Sayeed quickly jumped in with his hate comments..Mr.Shah Rukh having made his views in the interview should strongly now rebut and condemn Pakistan for interfering in his personal life. He should inform Pakistan that minorities are better off in India than in Pakistan where they are being targeted everyday. The life of Shias, Ahmedis, Christians and Hindus are unsafe and are looking for an opportunity to go safer places to live honourably.It is also important that our government makes it clear that such statement is not going to help build better relations between India and Pakistan.
Sincerely
H.N.Ramakrishna
A very good reply by the home secretary.
Every now and then, we hear about some blast in Pakistan taking innocent
lives of civilians out there. Now, why on this earth would Mr. Malik be
worried about Sharukh Khan. He did not worry about him when 11/9 attack
occurred.
India is a secular democracy and all minorities, including Muslims, are treated equally. Currently, it has a Sikh PM, a Sikh Army chief, a Christian Air Chief, and a Muslim Vice President and a Muslim CJI. Contrast India's record with that of Pakistan. Is any person belonging to a minority group in Pakistan treated as well as SRK in India?
What a sheer waste of time, energy, money is this whole act of Pakistan
and India.
This is totally unwarranted but not surprising. Pakistan always tries to prove the correctness of their two nations theory as it is the basis of Pakistan's birth. But in India not only Hindus and Muslims but also many other religions have been living in peace and harmony, thanks to the special provisions available in our constitution. This is our strength and Pakistan's weakness.
Pakistan should mind its own people rather than worry about Shah Rukh khan. It cannot put its house in order so why and how talk about Indians. Mr Shah Rudh Khan should give a mouthfull to Pakistan.
SRK is an icon and is loved by many people in India and is totally safe. He should better worry about people like Malala.
I could not resist laughing at Malik's comment. A country that cannot protect its own citizens is not qualified to be talking about other country citizens' security. Pakistan, provide security to your people. And then provide security to foreigners visiting your country. Organize cricket matches, hockey matches which you are currently struggling to do. And then talk about India's security.
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