Imran Khan was detained by Mumbai Police on Saturday while participating in the demonstration.
MUMBAI: Filmmaker Ashoke Pandit has welcomed the Mumbai Police’s notice directing Bollywood actor Imran Khan to leave India by October 28 following his participation in a political protest in Mumbai.
Pandit said foreign nationals and those who are not Indian citizens should understand the legal restrictions governing their participation in political demonstrations before taking to the streets. The notice was issued after Imran Khan, who reportedly holds a US passport and an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card, participated in a protest at August Kranti Maidan last week, according to news agency ANI. Reacting to the police action, Pandit said he was pleased with the decision and accused those participating in such demonstrations of potentially creating unrest in the country. Speaking to the media after the incident, Khan said he had attended the protest as a citizen of Mumbai and was not there to advance any specific demands. Somaiya said he had submitted evidence to the police concerning Khan’s speeches during the protest and his earlier remarks, according to ANI.
The demonstration called for the resignation of chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. He also suggested that individuals should educate themselves about their legal rights and obligations before joining political protests. He also raised questions about restrictions on freedom of movement and the suppression of people’s voices. He alleged that the actor had misused his OCI status by taking part in what he described as an illegal political agitation. “The citizens of India cannot tolerate the political extremism that Imran Khan has been displaying during his recent stay in the country. He is an American citizen holding an OCI card, yet he has attempted to misuse his status.
Today, we submitted all proofs and evidence to the police regarding his conduct—specifically the speeches he delivered during the protest and his earlier comments,” Somaiya said.
“I am really very happy …because when you don’t have a right to protest, and you are not a citizen of this country, you go all out to see to it that our country is defamed. Because you are trying to create unrest in the country,” he expressed, so, first educate yourself, study, and ask your family members and elders to explain whether you are allowed to take to the streets and wage a war against this country,. So, it can be under certain instructions by people who are enemies of our country within and outside, across the borders. So, you came on the streets to fight for your rights without realising it, without being educated to know what rights you have.