Famous Bollywood actor Anupam Kher has been denied a visa by Pakistan High Commission. He was going to attend the Karachi Literature Festival on February 5.
He was invited by the organisers of the literary festival in Karachi as one of their guests.
While talking to ANI, the actor, who was recently awarded Padma Bhushan, said that he is disappointed and sad about this. “Out of 18 participants, 17 were given a visa and I was denied,” he said.
Anupam Kher. newindianexpress
The actor expressed his anger and disappointment on Twitter as well. He asked if his visa was cancelled because he has spoken about the tolerance debate in India or because he’s a Kashmiri Pandit.
“Delay is the deadliest form of denial.”:)
— Anupam Kher (@AnupamPkher) February 2, 2016
Invitation letter from Ameena Saiyid, Director, #KarachiLitFest dated 30th Oct, 2015. pic.twitter.com/7v9iuj9xHL
— Anupam Kher (@AnupamPkher) February 2, 2016
Will be presenting all proofs/documents to prove Pakistan High Commission’s Lie that i didn’t apply for visa. Press Con at 5.30 in my school
Advertisement— Anupam Kher (@AnupamPkher) February 2, 2016
I feel bad for all those people who were looking forward to meet me in Pakistan and vice versa. Sorry to them. Hopefully one day …
— 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
Indian Govt welcomes Pakistan based writers, artists, actors etc. Pakistan Govt. bans entry of Indian actors. Why fear a free dialogue?
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Top Most Characters of Mahabharata— Anupam Kher (@AnupamPkher) February 2, 2016
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
Kher said that we always welcome the artists from Pakistan in India. 60-year-old actor said that he does not have any clue why his visa has not been issued.
According to Kher, this incident has left the organisers of Karachi Literature Festival embarrassed and they have aplogised to him.
However, the Pakistan High Commission responded to his allegation saying that they have received no Visa application from Anupam Kher. The actor had also been denied Visa to Pakistan in May 2015. He was then invited by an NGO for an event in Lahore.
On the other side, senior Congress leader Salman Khurseed has been given Visa to participate in the festival.
Anupam Kher had been surrounded by the controversy after he was awarded Padma Bhushan as some believe people that he was given the award because of his support to the NDA government on intolerance debate in the country.
A few days ago he had a spat on Twitter with senior Congress leader and Member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor.
The war of words started with the Congress MP’s response to the actor’s recently reported remark that he is scared to openly say he is a Hindu.
Sadly, you forgot that you brought in your Kind of Hindu & Sanghi Hindu first. You want to categorize that also? https://t.co/I1aBObn5BY
— Anupam Kher (@AnupamPkher) January 30, 2016
Then Kher responded and called Tharoor “Congi Chamcha.”
Come on Shashi. Never thought you will misinterpret my statement like trolls do. And behave like a Congi Chamcha. https://t.co/SOD44ZPYvM
— Anupam Kher (@AnupamPkher) January 30, 2016
Karachi Literature Festival (KLF) was launched in March 2010. Founded by Ameena Saiyid and Asif Farrukhi and produced by Oxford University Press, it brings together authors writing in diverse languages and genres.
