Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan was today dubbed as "anti-nationalist" and "Pakistani agent" by senior BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya and controversial Hindutva figure Sadhvi Prachi in their attack on him over his "extreme intolerance" comment.
Vijayvargiya, a BJP general secretary and a former state minister of Madhya Pradesh, said Shah Rukh's "soul" is in Pakistan though he lives in India, a day after the actor said there is "extreme intolerance" in the country, adding his voice to the protest against the 'climate of intolerance'.
The comments by Vijayvargiya and Sadhvi Prachi, a controversial Hindutva leader, came notwithstanding the refrain of top BJP leaders in the recent weeks that insensitive comments should be avoided by partymen. Vijayvargiya is one of the party strategists for the Bihar Assembly elections.
"Shah Rukh lives in India, but his soul is in Pakistan. His films make crores here but he thinks India to be intolerant," Vijayvargiya said in a series of tweets amid mounting concerns over the "climate of intolerance" in the country.
"If this is not anti-nationalist, then what is it. India is making a bid to become a permanent member of the United Nations and all the anti-Indian forces including Pakistan are creating a conspiracy," he said.
The BJP leader alleged that the attempt to create an "environment of intolerance" in the country is part of the conspiracy.
"Shahrukh's comment about intolerance points that he is matching the tunes with Pakistan and anti-Indian forces," he said.
"Today when the entire world is respecting India, talking about increase in intolerance makes the country weak in front of the world."
Vijayvargiya said that when the entire world is respecting India, talking about increase in intolerance makes the country "weak" in front of the world.
The BJP leader also posed a question to Shah Rukh over blasts in Mumbai.
"When hundreds of people died in the 1993 blast in Mumbai, then where was Shah Rukh Khan. When Mumbai was attacked in 26/11 attacks, then where was Shah Rukh Khan," he added.
Sadhvi Prachi while terming Shah Rukh as a "Pakistani agent" said he should be sent to that country.
"Shah Rukh Khan is an agent of neighbouring coutry Pakistan as he reflects their (Pakistan's) ideology. Such a man should go to Pakistan," she said while talking to reporters in a court complex in Muzaffarnagar.
Turning 50 yesterday, Shah Rukh came out strongly against what he called "extreme intolerance" in the country, saying intolerance towards creativity and religion will hurt the country.
"There is intolerance, there is extreme intolerance... there is I think... There is growing intolerance," he said.
"It is stupid... It is stupid to be intolerant and this is our biggest issue not just an issue...Religious intolerance and not being secular in this country is the worst kind of crime that you can do as a patriot," he added.
"If there is intolerance to creativity, intolerance through religion, we are taking away every step that the nation is taking forward," he said.
