Renowned scriptwriter Salim Khan has lashed out at Times Now for allegedly branding the proponents of Pakistani actors as anti-nationals and security threats.
Taking to Twitter, the senior Khan said, “Breaking news Saeed, Lakhvi & Masood replaced by Salman Khan Mahesh Bhatt Karan Johar & Yechury on the most wanted list of Times Now as these people are a big threat to the unity of our country. Take heart gentlemen at least you are in the job of entertaining people rather than in a job of shouting screaming hurting & humiliating people. Mr Yechury careful, talking of peace will make you a traitor. Mr Bhatt our country has no dearth of intense and dramatic actors on TV then why look across the border. (sic)”
Khan’s comments came a day after his son Salman Khan had defended the Pakistani artists saying they were not terrorists.
Salman had said that Pakistani actors should not be treated like terrorists and art and terrorism should not be mixed.
“Pakistani artistes are just artistes and not terrorists. Terrorism and art are two different subjects. They come with proper visa and the government gives them a work permit.” Salman said, when asked about his take on banning the actors from Pakistan.
The Indian Motion Picture Producers Association had passed a resolution Friday to ban Pakistani actors from the industry in the wake of the Uri attack.
Last week, Raj Thackeray-led MNS issued an ultimatum to Pakistani artistes and actors including Fawad Khan, who is part of one of the productions under Salman’s banner, and Ali Zafar, to leave India by September 25 or else they would be “pushed out”.
Reacting to Salman Khan’s statement, his friend and the MNS chief, Raj Thackeray, had said that nation was above his friendship with the founder of Being Human.
Recently concerts of Pakistani singers Shafqat Amanat Ali and Atif Aslam, scheduled in Bengaluru and Gurgaon, respectively were also cancelled.