By: Satyam Vashishtha
Pakistan on Tuesday denied a visa to actor Anupam Kher, who has been invited by the organizers of a literary festival in Karachi as one of their guests.
18 delegates have been invited by the organizers of literary festival in Karanchi, out of them 17 was been granted the visa and 1 gets rejected that’s Mr. Kher’s visa. “I am very sad and disappointed that out of 18 participants, 17 were given visa and I was denied,” Kher told news agency.
Reacting to reports, the Pakistan High Commission, however, has claimed Kher never submitted any application for the visa
Mr. Kher a Padma Bhushan awarded actor and much in light these days as a voice of BJP-led government at centre is scheduled to attend the fest on 5th of Feb. Last week Mr. Kher come in the news again having Twitter war with Congress Leader, Mr. Shashi Tharoor over the veteran actor’s comment that he is scared to openly say he is a Hindu.
This did not go down well with the 60-year-old actor, who called Tharoor a “Congi Chamcha” (Congress stooge). “Come on Shashi. Never thought you will misinterpret my statement like trolls do. And behave like a Congi Chamcha.”
Mr. Kher has twitted in a series about the denial of his visa.
Has my visa been denied because I speak about India’s rich tradition of tolerance or I am a Kashmiri Pandit who may expose Pak terror nexus?
— Anupam Kher (@AnupamPkher) February 2, 2016
Indian Govt welcomes Pakistan based writers, artists, actors etc. Pakistan Govt. bans entry of Indian actors. Why fear a free dialogue?
— Anupam Kher (@AnupamPkher) February 2, 2016
Didn’t Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs red flag my name to Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi? Why hide facts deliberately?
— Anupam Kher (@AnupamPkher) February 2, 2016
However, an artist should not be denied entry in any country because art is not bounded with religion, cast or country, but as Pakistan High Commission claims, Mr. Kher never submitted any application and if it comes true should we consider it as a complete drama? Let the time speak itself.