In wake of the ongoing ban on Pakistani artists imposed by Indian Motion Picture Producers Association (IMPPA), veteran actor Om Puri ignited a new controversy by insulting martyred soldiers.
Om Puri, who was invited on a leading news channel for a debate on the IMPPA ban following the killing of 19 Indian soldiers in the Uri attacks on September 18, lost his cool during the debate.
In a show of brazen insensitivity, the veteran actor made a statement that has now kicked up a storm.
“Who had asked the soldiers to join the army? Who told them to pick the weapons?” he asked.
Not stopping there, Puri sarcastically called for preparing 15-20 human suicide bombers in India and sending them to Pakistan for blasts.
“Do you want India-Pakistan enmity to turn like Israel and Palestine, and fight for ages? India is home to crores of Muslims, there is no point in provoking them for war”.
He further said that that the Indo-Pak partition was not just the division of countries, but that it also divided families.
“Several Indians have their relatives staying across the border and vice-versa, how can they fight a war with their cross-border families?” he asked.
On being quizzed further on his support to Pakistani actors, Puri said that if people really want a ban on Pakistani celebrities, they should ask the Indian government to cancel their visas.
Om Puri had stated earlier that Pakistani artists work in India with a valid visa, that it was irrelevant to boycott them and that it would not change the situation in any manner.
Puri’s remarks on martyred soldiers have initiated a stir with the veteran actor being criticized for his inappropriate remarks.
Reacting to Om Puri’s inadequate comments, actor Paresh Rawal expressed his disappointment on Twitter and wrote, “Never thought someone like Om Puri ji would make such a shameful comment. Sad. This is so heartbreaking”.
Also, a complaint has been registered against the veteran actor in the Andheri police station in Mumbai for his insensitivity.
Ever since the IMPPA passed a resolution to ban the Pakistani artists, Bollywood celebs have come up with mixed reactions, dividing B-town in two divisions
While some celebs like Salman Khan, Karan Johar, Anurag Kashyap etc are opposed to the ban and say that Pakistani artists are not terrorists, there are several others who are strongly in support of the ban, including Nana Patekar, Anupam Kher, Randeep Hoodda, Nawazuddin Siddiqui etc.
In fact, Nana Patekar had lashed out at personalities supporting Pakistani actors saying not one is above the country. He further stated that celebs were as miniscule as ‘termites’ when compared to the nation.
