Twitter
Advertisement

Anupam Kher visa fiasco: Actor claims he was denied visa, Pak claims he never applied

The other 17 Indian participants who have been given the travel document include senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid and actress Nandita Das.

Latest News
article-main
Anupam Kher
FacebookTwitterWhatsappLinkedin

Bollywood actor and BJP sympathiser Anupam Kher said he had been denied a visa by Pakistan to attend a literary festival in Karachi beginning Friday. The Pakistani High Commission in Delhi, however, claimed today he had never applied for a visa. Kher was one of the 18 Indians invited to the prestigious four-day event by the organisers but he is the only one who has been denied the visa. The other 17 Indian participants who have been given the travel document include senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid and actress Nandita Das.

In a series of tweets, Kher said: "Have been informed that Pakistan MoFA has denied permission for my visa to participate in the Karachi Literature festival. Sad to have been denied visa on second time in a year. While around 17 people will participate in the Karachi Literature Festival as guests. 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? Indian Govt welcomes Pakistan based writers, artists, actors etc. Pakistan Govt. bans entry of Indian actors. Why fear a free dialogue? Didn't Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs red flag my name to Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi? Why hide facts deliberately? Pak High Commission shud know their own rules. #KarachiLitFest had given my name to authorities 1 month back & have my name in every poster. For the Media: It is not possible to take calls from all media people. Pls come to my school at 5.30pm today. Wil talk. #PakistanVisitDenied 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 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 ..."

The noted actor, who was recently honoured with the Padma Bhushan by the government, said on Tuesday that he was very "sad and disappointed" over the matter and wondered whether he was denied a visa for raising the issue of Kashmiri Pandits, supporting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and for being a patriot. "I am very sad and disappointed that so many people were given visa but I was the only one who has been denied it. We welcome their artistes in India. If there are objections to their performance at one place in India they are welcome at other places. But there is no reciprocity," he told PTI.

When contacted, Pakistan High Commission's head of media Manzoor Memon said Kher had never submitted a visa application to Pakistan High Commission. "So the question of issuing or denying him visa does not arise."

The organisers of the annual Karachi Literature Festival (KLF) said they are unaware of the reasons for rejection of visa to the actor. Ameena Syed, the spokesperson for the KLF, told PTI that they had been advised by the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi to tell Kher not to submit a visa application as he would not be issued one. "That is all we have been told. They told us that the remaining 17 guests invited from India should be asked to submit applications as they would be issued visas," she said. 

Kher was also denied a visa in May 2014 to visit Lahore on the invitation of a Pakistani NGO and security reasons were cited for the decision. Rejecting Pakistan High Commission's contention that he had not applied for a visa, Kher called it a "laughable explanation". He said organisers had completed the formalities for the visa. "I do not know why they denied me the visa. Is it because of my patriotism, because I talk about my country. Is it because I do not go to that country and criticise my country there. I do not speak the language of terrorists. There can be millions of reasons," said Kher.

The actor said he would request the government to take up the issue with Pakistan, adding he had planned to speak about India, its tolerance among other issues.

Sources in the Pakistan government in Karachi told PTI that since Kher is very active and vocal on social media on sensitive issues pertaining to religion and Indo-Pak relations he was not asked to submit his application. The KLF spokesperson said around 35 invitees from abroad were participating in the festival besides Inda, including delegates from the US, Britain and Bangladesh. On Pakistan High Commission's claim that he had not applied for the visa, Kher said if that was true then how did the 17 others get documents and why had the organisers had put his name on their posters. "They are telling a lie. I do not have to do it. The organisers had done it," the actor said.

Kher said the visa denial has left the festival organisers embarrassed and they have apologised to him. "We welcome their artistes in India. If there are objections to their performance at one place in India they are welcome at other places. But there is no reciprocity," he said. As to why his visa has not been issued, Kher said, "I wish I knew. I am wondering if it is because I am a Kashmiri Pandit or because of my views on the tolerance debate in India or because of my pro-PM talk." 

KLF's Sayed felt the Bollywood star's presence would have given the Karachi audience a different perspective. "We had organised an exclusive session for him with Ashok Chopra with a very large audience. People would have asked him questions about his views. He would have had a chance to talk to them, to engage with them, to answer their questions and in the process some understanding would have developed... His coming here could have made such a difference. It might even have led to some change in his opinions or it might have changed or would have resulted in more understanding of his views, but it is only when you come face to face," she said. 

With inputs from agencies 

Find your daily dose of news & explainers in your WhatsApp. Stay updated, Stay informed-  Follow DNA on WhatsApp.
Advertisement

Live tv

Advertisement
Advertisement