Pakistan denies visa to Indian actor Anupam Kher: report
Pak High Commission says Anupam Kher has not even applied for visa.
MUMBAI (Web Desk) - Bollywood actor Anupam Kher on Tuesday said that he was "sad and disappointed" that he was denied a visa by Pakistan to attend the Karachi literature festival, the Indian media reported.
"I am very sad and disappointed that out of 18 participants, 17 were given visa and I was denied," the veteran actor told the Indian news agency ANI.
On the other hand, Pak High Commission said that Anupam Kher has not even applied for visa and that he seemed to be ‘unaware of the current process.’
"He has not submitted a visa application. Please check from him if he has any receipt," Pakistan High Commission spokesperson Manzoor Ali Memon told reporters.
In response, the actor said: "Pak High Commission is lying, rest of the 17 people got visa only I was denied."
Kher, 60, has been at the forefront of a campaign in support of the BJP-led union government, amid a raging debate on the perception of increased religion tension and intolerance in the country.
Last week, he was awarded the Padma Bhushan by the government, leading to questions over whether the honour was politically motivated.
His wife Kirron Kher is a BJP member of Parliament (MP) from the constituency of Chandigarh.
On ther hand, former home secretary and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP R.K. Singh said that the Pakistan High Commission denying a visa to actor Anupam Kher sends a contradictory signal.
"I think this is very unfortunate and this also shows the mentality of some elements in Pakistan, and this also sends a contradictory signal. On the one hand, you say that you want normal relations whith us (India), and on the other hand, you deny a visa to one of our leading artists," Singh told ANI.
Singh asked, "I want to know where are those ‘so called’ intellectuals who were protesting when Ghulam Ali was not allowed to come. Where are their voices?"
