BJP national spokesperson defends Salman, slams Fawad Khan

Salman Khan is at the receiving end of criticism ever since he gave a statement supporting Pakistani artistes last week. During a media interaction, while answering a question, the Sultan actor said that Pakistani artistes are not terrorists. He also pointed out that as the Indian government has provided them with visas to work in India, it is up to them to cancel it.

Although Salman has been slammed by political parties like Shiv Sena and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), the national spokesperson of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Shaina NC, has come out in support of Salman. She said, “Salman was asked a question. He answered it.” 

During the course of the discussion, she added, “And really, all argument as to what Salman meant by his remark ends with the question — are we going to provide visas to Pakistanis in the near future? Clearly not! We gave visas when there was room for dialogue between the two countries. Currently with Pakistan in denial mode and with Nawaz Sharif in no mood to accept terror attacks from Pakistan, we see no room for any communication, at least not at the moment, on any level, economic, political or cultural (sic).” 

However, NC did not mince words while expressing her displeasure at the silence of Fawad Khan and other Pakistani artistes over the terror attack in Uri. She also showed indifference to the fact that the actor was wrongly quoted for making anti-India statements last week.  

She said, “Who the hell cares what he said or didn't say, as long as he had the decency to speak up against terrorism? As someone who has been working in India he needs to condemn all acts of terror. By doing so, he wouldn’t be condemning his government. Why should he keep quiet about an actor of terror in a country that has given him his identity?” 

While MNS has decided not to let Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, which stars Fawad, release in India, no such stand has been taken by the ruling party at the Centre, BJP.