BJP condemns treatment meted out to Shah Rukh Khan at US airport

The BJP on Friday termed as "unacceptable" the treatment meted out to filmstar Shahrukh Khan by American authorities and demanded that the government register a strong protest with the US to ensure that such incidents do not recur.

"Such attitude of the US is not acceptable and we condemn it. First this (detention and security check) was done with former President APJ Abdul Kalam, then with Shah Rukh Khan and then with me. Now this has been repeated with Khan. Each time the US says it will look into the issue," BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said.

The BJP leader recalled that he was not given a visa initially by the US as his second name was "Hussain". Later the issue was sorted out and he went ahead with his trip to the US for a UN programme.

The opposition party demanded that India take up this issue seriously with the US.

"India should register a strong protest with the US. Such behaviour is not acceptable to Indians," Hussain said.

Shah Rukh Khan, who is a on visit to Yale University in the US, was detained for two hours at the White Plains airport in New York. The US authorities later tendered apology for the incident.