India must provide security to Shahrukh Khan: Malik

Shahrukh KhanPakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malik wants the Indian government to provide security to Shahrukh Khan, in the thick of a controversy over his comments on being a Muslim that led to Jamaat-ud Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed saying the star could move to Pakistan.

Shahrukh was born Indian and he would like to remain the same, Malik told reporters Monday at a reception organised by Indian High Commissioner Sharat Sabharwal to mark India’s Republic Day.

He said the people of both Pakistan and India love Shahrukh, reported Geo TV Tuesday.

“Let’s get together and fight against this extremism and terrorism because we are working for betterment and peace in Pakistan and India,” he was quoted as saying.

Hafiz Saeed had said Shahrukh could move to Pakistan if he does not feel safe in India after the superstar gave a first person account for Outlook Turning Points magazine, published in association with The New York Times newspaper.

The 47-year-old actor wrote: “I 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.”

“There have been occasions when I have been accused of bearing allegiance to our neighbouring nation rather than my own country – this even though I am an Indian, whose father fought for the freedom of India. Rallies have been held where leaders have exhorted me to leave and return what they refer to my original homeland,” added the superstar of Hindi cinema.

He went on say that he became so sick of being mistaken for some crazed terrorist, “who co-incidentally carries the same name as mine that I made a film subtly titled ‘My Name Is Khan’ (and I am not a terrorist) to prove a point”.

Set in post 9/11 US, “My Name Is Khan” focuses on religious and national identities through Rizwan, played by Shahrukh, who has Asperger’s Syndrome,.

“Ironically, I was interrogated at the airport for hours about my last name when I was going to promote the film in America for the first time,” said the filmstar.

IANS

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7 Comments

  • It is a complex issue, but i think, Rahman malik is no one to teach us about our security issues.
    Better he should take care about his own regime.
    But it is true, that when it comes to politicians, they enjoy the tight security provisions.
    The best example is Delhi police.Reports say that around 60% personnals of Delhi police are busy in protecting VIP’s.
    But these politicians don’t care about civilians or other prestigious person of our country.
    In case of SRK, it’s true that he has been tortured perpetually on the name of riligion .
    The organizations like SHIVSENA,Bajrang Dal always protested him dispite of the fact that his father was freedom fighter and fought for India.
    So, it’s not an issue , on which we should create our fan war. Instead of it, we should stand firmly with the truth.
    Thanks.

  • As a Pakistani i am saying that no one in Pakistan takes Rehman Malik seriously, so you guys don’t need to take him too seriously. He is just a stupid wanna-be and wants to be in the lime light.

  • India is providing security to srk but srk should also provide some entertainment now.it has been long time now. “kuck kuch hota hai” was released more than 10 years ago.no entertaining movie after kkhh.

  • @Sachin11
    Come on! Are you saying India only provides security if anyone entertains them. If they don’t entertain then they would not be provided security? I don’t think that’s true.

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