Subhash K Jha (DNA; October 6, 2016)

Salman Khan’s statement that Pakistani artistes are not terrorists and that they should be allowed to work in India if they’ve proper visas, has raised a furore in some circles. However BJP spokesperson Shaina NC states, “Salman was asked a question. He answered it.”

In retaliation to the actor’s liberal comments about the Pakistani presence in Bollywood, MNS chief Raj Thackeray has threatened to ban Salman’s films and told him to get a work permit in Pakistan. Retorts Shaina, “This is a totally uncalled-for reaction. One shouldn’t piggyback on Salman’s stardom just to get noticed.”

About Salman’s father Salim Khan stepping in to defend his son Shaina says, “Salim saab is someone whose views I respect immensely. And I see nothing wrong in him giving his opinion as he is highly regarded both within and outside the film industry. And really, all argument as to what Salman meant by his remark ends with the question: Are we going to provide visas to Pakistanis in the near future? Clearly not! We gave visas when there was room for dialogue between the two countries. Now, there there is absolutely no room for interaction. Now, with Pakistan currently in denial mode, we see no room for any communication, at least not at the moment, on any level, economic, political or cultural.”

About Fawad Khan being wrongly accused of making anti-India statements Shaina says dismissively, “Who the hell cares what he said or didn’t say, as long as he had the decency to speak up against terrorism?As someone who has been working in India, he needs to condemn all acts of terror. By doing so, he wouldn’t be condemning his government.Why should he keep quiet about an act of terror in a country that has given him his identity?”

Shaina feels it’s time for healing. “Pakistan needs to pay heed to pressure from the world community and what it’s doing to its own country. There is no normalcy in Pakistan. And they need to accept that.”