Actor Anupam Kher accused Pakistan of denying him a visa
Mumbai:
Actor Anupam Kher today said that Pakistan had called him and offered a visa but he "has no dates" now.
The 60-year-old veteran actor alleged in a series of tweets and media statements that Pakistan had blocked his travel to the country for the Karachi Literature Festival beginning Friday.
The epilogue to the row came in the form of a tweet this morning, though it may not be the last word.
"Has my visa been denied because I speak about India's rich tradition of tolerance or I am a Kashmiri Pandit who may expose the Pakistan terror nexus?" he questioned.
Mr Kher said he had been "informed that the Pakistan foreign ministry had denied permission" for his visa.
The actor, who has enjoyed commercial as well as critical success in films, was recently named for the Padma Bhushan, one of the country's top civilian awards.
Last weekend, Mr Kher had a war of words on twitter with Congress leader Shashi Tharoor after posting that he was afraid of openly saying he is a Hindu. The actor has been a vocal supporter of the ruling BJP and also took out a protest march to counter activists who have alleged a rise in "intolerance" since the Modi government took power.
The 60-year-old veteran actor alleged in a series of tweets and media statements that Pakistan had blocked his travel to the country for the Karachi Literature Festival beginning Friday.
The epilogue to the row came in the form of a tweet this morning, though it may not be the last word.
On Tuesday, Mr Kher said Pakistan had denied him a visa on orders from its Interior Ministry. Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit tweeted to him that he had never received any application.Thank you Mr. @abasitpak1 for your call & offering me visa to visit Karachi. I appreciate it. Unfortunately i've given away those dates now.
— Anupam Kher (@AnupamPkher) February 3, 2016
Mr Kher countered that 17 other invitees to the Karachi literature festival, including senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid and actor Nandita Das, had been granted visa.@AnupamPkher sorry Sir I don't know who told you about this so-called NoC, we are still to receive your visa application and passport
— Abdul Basit (@abasitpak1) February 2, 2016
"Has my visa been denied because I speak about India's rich tradition of tolerance or I am a Kashmiri Pandit who may expose the Pakistan terror nexus?" he questioned.
Mr Kher said he had been "informed that the Pakistan foreign ministry had denied permission" for his visa.
The actor, who has enjoyed commercial as well as critical success in films, was recently named for the Padma Bhushan, one of the country's top civilian awards.
Last weekend, Mr Kher had a war of words on twitter with Congress leader Shashi Tharoor after posting that he was afraid of openly saying he is a Hindu. The actor has been a vocal supporter of the ruling BJP and also took out a protest march to counter activists who have alleged a rise in "intolerance" since the Modi government took power.
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