NEW DELHI -- BJP yesterday termed as "unfortunate" the denial of visa to actor Anupam Kher by Pakistan saying it will be a "setback" to the process of people-to-people contact to help improve ties between the two countries.
BJP also questioned the silence of so-called "pseudo seculars" who are vocal on issues pertaining to performance of Pakistani artists in India and attack BJP and the government, saying it is "shameful".
"This is very unfortunate that actor Anupam Kher was denied a visa by Pakistan. This is very unfortunate that an actor has been singled out. Though every country has the right to give or deny a visa to anyone, this is a setback to the people-to-people contact approach initiated to help improve ties between the two neighbouring countries," BJP national secretary and media cell head Shrikant Sharma said.
Attacking the 'pseudo-seculars' who are very vocal on issues pertaining to performance of Pakistani artists in India, he questioned why they were silent now when an Indian actor was denied a visa and was singled out.
"Their silence is very shameful," he said, adding why they have turned silent and are not vocal today.
Artist, actor and BJP sympathiser Anupam Kher was denied a visa by Pakistan to attend a literary festival in Karachi beginning Friday.
The Pakistani High Commission in Delhi, however, claimed yesterday he had never applied for any visa.
Kher was one of the 18 Indians invited to the four-day prestigious 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 included senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid and actor Nandita Das.
The noted actor, who has just been honoured with Padma Bhushan by the government, yesterday said he was very "sad and disappointed" over the matter and wondered whether he was denied visa for raising the issue of Kashmiri Pandits, supporting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and for being a patriot.
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