Bangladeshi actor's visa cancelled, told to leave India
Kolkata: Bangladeshi actor Ferdous Ahmed has landed in a controversy after he campaigned for the Trinamool Congress in Raiganj constituency areas on April 14. The Ministry of Home Affairs has cancelled the business visa of the actor and the Deputy High Commission of Bangladesh has sought a clarification from him in this regard.
Ahmed has also been "blacklisted" by the Union Home Ministry, thus jeopardising the prospects of his future travel to India
The actor had visited the state on tourist visa for a shooting of a film. Ahmed was seen seeking votes for the Trinamool Congress candidate Kanhaiyalal Agarwal at election rallies at Hemtabad and Karandighi near the Indo-Bangladesh border for the ensuing Lok Sabha polls.
Ahmed took part in the election rallies along with Tollywood actors Ankush Hazra and Payal.
The office of the Deputy High Commission of Bangladesh asked for a clarification from the Bangladeshi actor and also instructed him to return to his country.
The actor told a senior official of the Deputy High Commission that he attended the election rally after he was requested to do so by a close friend. He said he was not aware about the restrictions.
The BJP leaders in the state questioned the presence of a foreign national in political campaign in the state.
They moved to the office of the Chief Electoral Officer urging the election officials to take stringent action against the Bangladeshi
actor.
The BJP also accused the Trinamool Congress of violating the model code of conduct.
The BJP has also submitted a complaint to the CEO office to look into the matter. An official, on condition of anonymity, said, "Nothing specific is mentioned in the code of conduct about foreign national."
The Trinamool Congress candidate Kanhaiyalal Agarwal contesting the Lok Sabha elections from Raiganj constituency told a private television channel on Tuesday said that he had no clue if any Bangladeshi film actor took part in his election campaign.
According to a senior election official at the CEO office, there was no specific rule laid down in this regard.
Ahmed has acted in several films in Bengali film industry. He was seen on the dais of a rally urging people to vote for TMC.
Raiganj seat with Agarwal locked in a triangular contest with Congress's Deepa Dasmunshi and CPI-M's Mohammad Salim.
Raiganj will vote during the second phase of the Lok Sabha election on April 18.