Chirag Paswan questions Imran Khan’s SIR protest role, slams Rahul Gandhi over Goa visit

Union minister Chirag Paswan on Sunday questioned Bollywood actor Imran Khan's participation in protests demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation, saying the actor was not an Indian citizen and should have stayed away from the demonstrations.

Paswan described the protests against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls as "attempts to create anarchy with backing from foreign powers". His remarks came days after Khan, an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card holder, received a notice asking him to leave India over alleged violations of the Foreigners' Act.

Speaking to reporters here, Paswan also criticised Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, for going ahead with political engagements in Goa unlike Union home minister Amit Shah who showed "sensitivity" by cancelling all his scheduled programmes in Kolkata, where 19 people were killed in a stampede at a Durga Puja pandal.

The Hajipur MP, who, incidentally, tried his hand in films before entering politics, was responding to queries about the "leave India" notice issued to Khan, an OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) card holder, who has been charged with violating the Foreigners' Act.

"I like the actor and his work. But he should have realised that he did not become an Indian citizen just by virtue of having worked in the country for so long. If citizens take part in protests here, I respect that. But when foreign nationals do that if is a matter of concern.

Notably, Khan is a nephew of superstar Amir Khan. He was born in the US and holds American citizenship, though he was brought up in India and has been active in the film industry for over a decade.

The actor received the notice days after turning up at a demonstration staged in Mumbai to press for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation.

Paswan, who heads Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), also expressed grief over the loss of lives in Kolkata, and lauded Shah for showing "sensitivity" by cancelling his programmes in the city.

Referring to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's scheduled rally in Goa, where assembly polls are due in a few months, the Union minister said, "It shows the difference in priorities. On the one hand, we have our home minister who is sensitive towards a tragedy, and on the other, we have the opposition for which nothing matters more than politics."