BJP MP Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday compared Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan with Pakistani terrorist Hafiz Saeed after the actor said there was growing intolerance in India.
The hardline BJP leader said in Gorakhpur that both Shah Rukh Khan and Saeed -- the mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai terror attack -- speak the same language.
"There is no difference in the language Shah Rukh Khan and Saeed speak," said Adityanath, who heads the Gorakhpur mutt in eastern Uttar Pradesh and is known for his radical views on issues related to Hinduism.
Adityanath said if Hindus stopped seeing Shah Rukh Khan's movies, "he will be on the streets like an ordinary Muslim".
The MP's comment came a day after a BJP leader, Kailash Vijayvargiya, called Shah Rukh -- as the actor is widely known and who turned 50 on Monday -- a "deshdrohi" (traitor).
Vijayvargiya said on Wednesday that his comment had been "misconstrued".
Another Hindutva proponent, Sadhvi Prachi, dubbed the actor a "Pakistani agent".
Shah Rukh Khan had said earlier that there "is intolerance (in India), there is extreme intolerance ... there is growing intolerance".
Adityanath said "so-called writers and artistes" had taken an anti-India stand by returning their national awards over alleged growing intolerance, and that Shah Rukh Khan had now added his voice to this group.
He said while he was all for a free debate on issues, no one had a right to hurt India's international image.
Those who did deserved to be boycotted, the saffron-robed MP said.
When he was told that Hafiz Saeed had invited Indians to come to Pakistan if they found intolerance in India difficult to cope with, Adityanath said: "They can go (to Pakistan). We also want them to go."
Adityanath has been representing Gorakhpur in the Lok Sabha for the BJP since 1998. Also head of the Hindu Yuva Vahini group, he has sparked many controversies with his hardline comments.
In June this year, he declared that those who oppose yoga can leave India.
Adityanath's comments drew criticism from both the Shiv Sena and veteran Bollywood actor Anupam Kher.
Shiv Sena spokesman Sanjay Raut said: "Shah Rukh must not be targeted for being a Muslim. He has the same rights as we do."
Kher, a known BJP supporter, tweeted: "Some members of the BJP really need to control their tongue and stop talking rubbish about Shah Rukh. He is a national icon and we are proud of him."
But BJP MP and popular Bhojpuri singer-actor Manoj Tiwari said Shah Rukh Khan had always been close to the Congress and had made his statement amid the ongoing Bihar assembly elections.
CONGRESS CONDEMNS BJP LEADER'S COMMENT ON SRK
The Congress on Wednesday condemned BJP general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya's remarks on Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan.
The party also condemned the "anti-national" tag given to Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) by RSS mouthpiece "Panchjanya".
"Shah Rukh Khan expressed his concren and independent opinion as a citizen of the country. The general secretary of the BJP raised questions on his nationality and doubted his patriotism. Whatever was said yesterday, the more we condemn it, less it is. What message are they giving to the people?" Congress spokesperson Anand Sharma told media persons.
Vijayvargiya on Wednesday retracted his comment against Shah Rukh's statement on "extreme intolerance in India", saying his words were misconstrued.
He earlier wrote that while Shah Rukh stays in India, his heart and mind were always in Pakistan, and that while his films make millions in India, the 50-year-old actor still finds "extreme intolerance" in the country.
"An RSS-linked magazine also made a comment about the prestigious university Jawaharlal Nehru University. It said the university produces anti-nationals. We totally condemn this.
"Whoever tries to voice dissent against the BJP or the Sangh Parivar, such comments are made against them. We are committed to uphold the democratic values of the country and we'll will fight to the hilt against forces which challenge it," said Sharma.
"We have been deeply anguished over the manner in which the government has been heaping insults on all those who have been complaining because of the happenings in the country. These incidents have created an environment of fear and intimidation.
"India's liberal democracy is under assault by forces who believe in regimentation, who believe in a kind of uniformity which is unacceptable to our pluralistic society with its richness of diversity," he added.
Sharma also attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his silence.
"The BJP leaders and their parent organisation, mouthpieces, journals are tearing apart in a very planned manner and orchestrated campaign the preamble of India's Constitution.
"The PM must explain is he conscious of his constitutional duties and will he action take action against those who are guilty of doing what is not permissible as per the constitution.
"By not taking action until now, the PM has not set something which is meaningful and reassuring.
"If he is sincere, what prevents the PM from removing such people from the government and MPs from his party and also take action against those who are not in Parliament but are senior functionaries of the BJP. His cosmetic regrets cannot be-fool the people of India.
"By his inaction, he is a tacit endorser of this environment of conflict and intolerance that has been crafted by his colleagues," Sharma added.
