Indian film actor Salman Khan
raised some serious questions about Pakistani actors being targeted post the
Uri attacks and surgical strikes in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK). Echoing
similar beliefs are several eminent film personalities who strongly believe
that Pakistani actors working in India have nothing to do with terrorism or
terrorist related violence that killed 18 Indian soldiers in Uri recently. The
international community condemned the cowardly act of terrorism and India urged
all SAARC nations to boycott the SAARC summit until Pakistan claims
responsibility for the terrorist activities and proxy wars against India. Khan
went on to say on camera that it is the Indian government that issues visas and
work permits to Pakistani actors such as Fawad Khan and Ali Zafar hence
targeting them and threatening them is not the way forward. Diplomatic
isolation is purely political but popular sentiments are now calling for
complete socio economic cultural and financial isolation of Pakistan, declaring
it a terrorist state.
Pakistani artists have the right
to work and prosper in India however whatever currency is being paid to them
goes to the Pakistani treasury and therefore the Indian establishment should
put a stop to it. This raises a serious question mark on the credibility of the
Pakistani artists who also have a certain social responsibility they need to
cater to by virtue of being a celebrity. Recently Rahul Agrawal, member of the
Indian Motion Picture Producers Association (IMPPA) resigned. Colonel R S N Singh
Former RAW Chief, said resignations don’t matter. The need of the hour is to
isolate Pakistan socially, politically, culturally and economically. Speaking
on the visa permits to Pakistani artists, Rashtriya Swayam Sewak (RSS) activist
Ratan Sharda said the situation is that of a real war and asking Pakistani
actors, artists to leave India is collateral damage, a common component of every
war. Film maker Shyam Benegal on the other hand asked the people not to brand
Pakistani artists as terrorists. They are artists and art has no connection
with terror. Amidst all this chaos,, there is one thing which is crystal. The
Indian Media has lost its sense of social responsibility and is igniting new
anti Pakistan passions in the heart of every peace loving Indian. But for how
many more years will this continue. Cultural isolation may be a wise decision
for the moment but art and creativity cannot be confined to borders. Singer
Adnan Sami’s pro India sentiments are being shown through images repeatedly by
the broadcast media to provoke people to urge the Indian establishment to go to
war.
A bomb or a grenade does not
differentiate between a cricketer, an artist, an actor, a soldier or a civilian.
War has never lead to constructive image rebuilding of nations being targeted
or victimised or nations that thrive on terror tactics.
Confidence Building Measures, all
the diplomatic dialogues, talks, hotline conversations, skype debates on
primetime are political in nature and are driven by a strong agenda i.e gaining
maximum visibility on international platforms such as the United Nations. How
will a Fawad Khan leaving India solve the ‘K’ question in Indo Pak ties?
Maharashtra Nav Nirman Sena (MNS) has threatened to disrupt movie screenings of
actor Salman Khan for allegedly taking sides of Pakistani Artists. But then has
the MNS ever done anything constructive? If Fawad Khan leaves will our soldiers
return home?
Where are we heading. In the name
of patriotism we are creating possibilities of ‘Poorna Swaraj” once again. No
Pakistani man woman or child should live in India. Don’t let them work here. Don’t
give them salaries. Instead throw them out because our ancestors decided to
leave the K question open ended. Why should Fawad Khan pay the price for being
born in Pakistan and having a Pakistani Passport? The answer lies in the
question itself. We Indians tend to react more and act less. Extreme reactions
from certain sections of pseudo liberal journalists or just pure and simple
news readers are not just threatening their viewers with the possibility of a
war with our neighbour they have already decided the war game. Just a day ago on national television i saw a
young gentleman, or Cardiff educated journalist i should say teaching us the
war game, telling us about surgical strikes. Of course this has no connection
with him being an army kid. Twitter hash tags run the country. Actors make
money. Artists come and entertain the masses and leave. India has to take a
firm stand and not be soft on terror. Culture is different from politics and
irony is both India and Pakistan have the same cultural roots.
So why target the Pakistani
Artists/Actors? This is essentially because India is an intolerant nation. It can
react but not act. If it acts the media reacts. If the media reacts the
international political order acts. Like
Marxist thesis synthesis and anti thesis. No. Please don’t mix terrorism with
cultural “ism”. What happened in Uri was
unfortunate and Pakistan will have to bear the consequences of the cowardly act
of mindless violence but I disagree with a certain Fawad Khan being thrown out
of India. Atithi Devo Bhava! Incredible India.
Image Courtsey -Google Images
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