Mumbai: While the govt defended its decision to ask
Imran Khan to leave the country by Oct 28 for flouting immigration laws, the opposition questioned the move, alleging double standards in asking Khan to depart while politicians facing serious criminal cases continue to hold public office.
Minister of state for home Yogesh Kadam said, “When you enter a country, a visa is issued and certain conditions are stated with it. You cannot violate those conditions, and if any violation occurs, the relevant Act applies and a notice is issued.” Asked about allegations made by some that Khan was being targeted because he belonged to a particular community, Kadam said, “One cannot overlook the fact that he is not an Indian citizen. He was issued a visa and must abide by those conditions.”
Transport minister Pratap Sarnaik dismissed Khan’s protests as an attempt to gain publicity and stay in the limelight amid a lack of work in films and TV. “It is unfortunate that a person holding US citizenship is staging protests in Maharashtra and India. Job losses in the US are affecting many Indians, some of whom are even being sent back. Why doesn’t he (Khan) protest against his country’s leadership instead of coming to India to demonstrate?” Sarnaik said.
Khan should either leave India before the designated date or relinquish his US citizenship, he said.
Tushar Gandhi, great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, said, “I am appalled by this response from the police, who have once again showed their servitude to the ruling dispensation. Imran joined a peaceful protest which any Indian has a right to do. PM Modi also organises shows of NRIs cheering him to show his popularity. Should they be deported for cheering for an alien prime minister? I stand in solidarity with Imran and thank him for supporting my call to join the protest at August Kranti Maidan. The police also need to be freed of their servitude to the govt in power. We are making a note of their behaviour.”
Addressing a news conference in Delhi, NCP (SP) MP
Supriya Sule said, “Everyone has the right to protest, irrespective of whether they hold a foreign passport. In a democracy, we can debate on it, but why ask him to leave the country? Chief ministers facing serious criminal allegations, including rape and murder, continue to hold office, while Khan has merely participated in a protest.”
Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray, who had separately protested at Dadar last week demanding the release of CJP supporters detained in Mumbai, criticised the action against Khan in a social media post. He said, “The protest was peacefully asking the election commission to come clean on vote theft and election rigging. Basically, under this regime, unlike under any other real democratic government around the free world, even holding your national flag, or simply being present at a peaceful demonstration asking for accountability is a crime worth jail!”
