Shah Rukh Khan detained at Los Angeles airport, parliament reacts angrily

Bollywood’s Badshah Shah Rukh Khan was once again was detained at Los Angeles International airport by US immigration officials on Friday. Through series of tweets, the actor announced his ‘inconvenience’ as well as how he was spending time by playing popular mobile app game ‘Pokemon’.

Though, Khan was playing ‘Pokemon’, the Parliament and Twitterati erupted slamming US authorities’ treatment towards the star.      

Acting swiftly US Ambassador to India Richard Verma as well as Assistant Secretary of State in charge of South Asia and Central Asia Nisha Biswal took to Twitter to tender an apology to Khan.  

But this damage control move by the two US diplomats in charge of South Asia couldn’t curtail the uproar in Parliament on the last day of this year’s Monsoon Session. Cutting across the party lines, Parliamentarians demanded that US immigration authorities should update their records on Khan.

“US Authorities should update their data. They repeatedly detain him at US airports only because his name matches that of a suspect, who has been long nabbed by them. It is high time, US authorities should correct their records,” said Congress Rajya Sabha MP Rajiv Shukla.

While maintaining that security was a concern, NCP MP and senior Supreme Court advocate Majeed Memon said, “This incident only reveals that there is something amiss in the security department of US administration at the airport. Every Khan is not a terrorist.  The administration should do some homework before they jump to conclusions and not harass innocent people.”

This is third time when the actor was detained at an airport by the US immigration officials. Prior to this, Khan was detained at the White Plains airport near New York in 2012. He was also detained for nearly two hours at the Newark Airport in New Jersey in year 2009.  

Actor and Congress MP, Raj Babbar pointed, “US should curtail this ‘Trump’ style approach towards Muslims. This is not about just Shah Rukh Khan. This incident highlights the racist mindset of a nation that calls itself the custodian of human rights. This act is condemnable.”

Even ruling establishment and its allies joined the opposition parties to condemn US immigration authorities approach towards Khan. Union Minister for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said, “No one will justify this kind of an act. Just in the name of religion, if someone is being stopped repeatedly.” 

Shiv Sena MP, Sanjay Raut, while taking to media, added, “He is citizen of this country and is a popular figure. Just because his name is Khan doesn’t mean he should be treated as a criminal.”

The sordid affair not just ruffled feathers in Parliamentarian but  also incensed Khan’s fans. Twitterati exploded as Bollywood actors and fans took to the social media platform. Some were miffed, while others saw a hilarious side to it.