New Delhi: The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) has slammed Bollywood actor Aamir Khan’s meeting with Turkish First Lady Emine Erdogan on 15 August, saying the love of some individuals and actors for “anti-India” forces has been increasing.
“Some persons and actors are inclined towards the persons and icons famous for their anti-Bharat credentials. An actor feeling proud of meeting Turkey’s first lady indicates so many things,” said Alok Kumar, international working president of the VHP.
Aamir Khan visited Turkey to prepare for his latest movie Laal Singh Chaddha, which will be shot there in October. Photos of his meeting with First Lady Erdogan had gone viral.
Vinod Bansal, national spokesperson of the VHP, added: “Those people whom the Indian audience treated so well and turned them into actors, today they feel proud to meet countries like anti-India Turkey. So, it is quite natural for the Indian audience to feel hurt. We will have to think.”
Reports in the Turkish media suggested the meeting between Khan and Erdogan happened at the behest of the Bollywood actor. Several netizens also questioned the meeting.
“There is one Zafarul (Islam Khan) who, while being the chairman of the minorities’ commission, threatens India on behalf of the radical Muslim countries. Now, we have this actor who could only get anti-India Turkey for his film promotion. Viewers understand everything,” Bansal added.
Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi also put out a tweet about Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan being “anti-India” and a “self-appointed Caliph”, and called the country an invisible threat for India. However, he did not name Aamir Khan or indicate that the tweet was triggered by his meeting with the First Lady.
#Erdogan is on a mission to become a new self appointed Caliph'. He has always been anti-India and Turkey's religious directorate under him is funding extremism in India.#Turkey is the biggest invisible threat for us. Erdogan or any of his acquanitances shouldn't be trusted.
— Abhishek Singhvi (@DrAMSinghvi) August 17, 2020
Also read: Shah Rukh, Aamir and Salman now starring in ‘Silence of the Khans’ under Modi rule
Targeted before
This is not the first time Aamir Khan has been targeted for his comments or actions. In 2015, after Khan said he was “alarmed” by several cases of intolerance, and said his wife Kiran Rao even suggested leaving the country, he was slammed by many.
In 2016, VHP’s youth wing Bajrang Dal had also announced protests against Aamir Khan’s film Dangal over his comments on intolerance.
Also read: Not all Muslim nations love Modi. This is why Iran, Malaysia, Turkey don’t