The “King of Bollywood”, Shah Rukh “King” Khan was detained and interrogated at Newark Airport in New Jersey on Saturday and the people of India are fuming!!
The Indian-born Khan believes he was interrogated by immigration in New Jersey after a British Airways flight from India because Khan happens to be a common Muslim surname which appears on national security checklists.
Shah explained the situation to reporters: “I was waiting for my bags. I thought it was nice of them to take me to another room, but that was apparently a second check. I had my papers in order.”
He says he was told by the officials the detainment was due to a “routine” luggage check, but British Airways managed to lose Khan’s luggage!
“Lose”, eh?
Khan was interrogated for a number of hours before officials let the actor make a phone call to the folks over at the Indian consulate to call for his release from detainment.
Although the Bollywood king realizes the “unfortunate” procedure is one “that needs to be followed,” many in India are up in arms over the detainment of their national hero!
Saturday, which coincidentally enough was India’s independence day, saw many protests in the northern Indian city Allahabad, including the burning of American flags and an effigy of President Obama!!!
Praful Patel, a civil aviation minister, believes India will “take the issue [up] with the United States government strongly.”
He continued: “Such Incidents involving Indians due to their religion or nationality should not happen. We will not accept it.”
In an attempt to keep the peace, American ambassador to India, Timothy J. Roemer, has released the following statement regarding the interrogation:
“We are trying to ascertain the facts of the case, to understand what took place. Shah Rukh Khan, the actor and global icon, is a very welcome guest in the United States. Many Americans love his films,” says Roemer.
Thoughts????
[Image via WENN.]
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