Everybody has the right to their view

Ayear after 9/11, I happened to be in the United States on a fellowship. It gave me an opportunity to travel across that fabulous country and interact with people from various walks of life. That was also when George Bush began building his case for invading Iraq and deposing Saddam Hussein. Emotions were high, and despite all that had happened the previous year, there were many people who not only opposed the invasion but went to the extent of calling him a warmonger.I remember an incident at the prestigious Brookings Institute in Washington DC, barely a stone’s throw from the White House. We were at this interaction of politicians — Democrats and Republicans and journalists. In the course of one particularly animated exchange between those for the war and those against, one former senator suggested that Saddam Hussein be allowed to visit the US and present his case to the American people and in case Bush went ahead and attacked Iraq, he should then be tried for war crimes. The suggestion was promptly shot down and there ended the matter.I’m reminded of that particular incident every time I see Raj Thackeray or his uncle Bal Thackeray flex their muscles at people they don’t like. The Sena’s latest decision to call for the boycott of Shah Rukh Khan’s latest film My Name is Khan is undemocratic in the extreme. The film should be screened in Mumbai and everywhere else. Why should the people of Mumbai be deprived of seeing that film, just because and some politician does not agree with what Khan has said about inviting Pakistani players for the IPL.He is entitled to his view, however hypocritical it may be. I too, have issues with Shah Rukh on that. He is the owner of Kolkata Knight Riders, and if he felt so strongly about including players from Pakistan, why did he not bid for one during the auction. He should have put his money where his mouth is. Having failed to do so, he is as guilty of the goof-up as Lalit Modi and all the others. But I will never deny him the right to put forth his view.