Bollywood actor/Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “non-political” interviewer Akshay Kumar has finally addressed the mango in the room: his citizenship.
The actor, who recently made headlines for his “candid and completely non-political” chat with Modi, was the subject of intense speculation about his citizenship after he did not vote in Mumbai on April 29 in the fourth round of the seven-phase polls.
Taking to Twitter, Kumar wrote, “I really don’t understand the unwarranted interest and negativity about my citizenship. I have never hidden or denied that I hold a Canadian passport. It is also equally true that I have not visited Canada in the last seven years.”
— Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) May 3, 2019
He further added, “I work in India, and pay all my taxes in India. While all these years, I have never needed to prove my love for India to anyone, I find it disappointing that my citizenship issue is constantly dragged into needless controversy, a matter that is personal, legal, non-political, and of no consequence to others.”
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Kumar’s statement was met with derision from many, who attacked the “deshbhakt” image that he has forged for himself. Many pointed out that if there was nothing to hide, why did he lie about the citizenship being “honorary” and not one that he had applied for.
The issue is of obfuscation of facts. Were you ever given 'honorary' citizenship of Canada as you'd stated in an interview? Now it seems like you've chosen to be a Canadian citizen with nothing 'honorary' about it. Did you lie in your interview? https://t.co/ZGr0bBRR7P
— Pratik Sinha (@free_thinker) May 3, 2019
Citizenship is as non-political as interviewing the PM. And people who have voluntarily discarded their Indian passport should stop giving patriotism gyaan to others. Jo logo ko religion column mey INDIAN likhne ko kehta hai, wo haqeeqat mey nationality mey bhi INDIAN nahi sakta https://t.co/Ar1h5YThzc
— Aditya Menon (@AdityaMenon22) May 3, 2019
General election phase made you so irritated by the "unwarranted interest" that it led you post a clarification online. What if your nationality was questioned because of your surname all year long? And you were asked to leave the country?
Stop whining. https://t.co/tX7n98Hgif— demotional (@VodkaAndChill) May 3, 2019
No problem with having different nationality..
Just don’t preach nationalism to others and align yourself with fascists who give out Anti-national certificates to everyone else, when you clearly believe in Internationalism and practice it too
— Dhruv Rathee (@dhruv_rathee) May 3, 2019
If you can’t take the heat, Akki, then stick to Bollywood in future. But if you want to play with the big boys in Delhi get a blue passport first. It isn’t difficult. https://t.co/SYKYqe3Ge5
— Krishan Partap Singh (@RaisinaSeries) May 3, 2019
So @akshaykumar why did you choose to be a Canadian rather than an Indian citizen? When you said being granted Canadian citizenship was a matter of pride, do you mean you value it more than Indian citizenship? Why do Modi & Co let you off the loyalty tests they set for others? https://t.co/BFllC6cFAZ
— Kavita Krishnan (@kavita_krishnan) May 3, 2019
“Never hidden or denied” but spun a tale about it being an “honorary” citizenship (which everyone anyway knew is not true) https://t.co/8esTT0YrQh
— SamSays (@samjawed65) May 3, 2019
Ignore the haters sir, we admire your social services. Even most of the Indians would'nt be able to do the things which you are doing despite being a foreigner.🇮🇳 💕🇨🇦 https://t.co/CjuKSWjRmU
— Rofl Gandhi 2.0 🏹 Commentary (@RoflGandhi_) May 3, 2019
(With PTI inputs)