By the time you read this, I am sure you already know that Shahrukh Khan, India's superstar and iconic actor, was detained at the Liberty International Airport of Newark in the USA. The star was in the US for being part of a function celebrating India's 63rd Independence Day.
As billions of fans and supporters of SRK all over the world are condemning this event, I too, join all of them in doing so, but only partly. There is no doubt that there wasn't a need for the US officials to do a secondary check, and detain him for 2 hours of questioning, after the primary check was done to know the identity of a person of South Asian origin, more so of Muslims.
After 9/11, US has made their homeland security top priority, and have full reasons to do so. If SRK was stopped during the primary check which is done for every foreigner entering US, it is totally justified. As I said before, it is the secondary check, which was totally uncalled for. Having said so, the US and any other country for that matter, has full right to check and do preliminary screening of every foreigner entering into their territory. Security can't and should not be compromised in any way, whatsoever. Therefore, I am totally against the people who say that just because he was SRK, he should have not been stopped at all.
For the Americans, he is just another visitor to their country, just as Anjelina Jolie might be for the comman man in India. Though, with the pathetic state of security and without the real will to improve that, Anjeline Jolie surely, would have been given a go ahead without any checking in India, because she is Anjelina, and because she is American. And if the US is checking each passengers like it has been doing, we surely know why there has not been any terrorist attack in the US after 9/11. Atleast they take their job seriously, without any compromise on the life of Americans. A lesson surely, which India should learn from.
Now coming to the main issues, because of which I am writing this.
- Media Reaction to SRK Detention
- Government Reaction to SRK Detention; and
- SRK Detention Episode Vs. Dr. Abdul Kalam Frisking Episode
The Media Reaction to SRK Detention - On a day when India is celebrating its 63rd Independence Day (15th August 2009), the Indian media, rather than giving the due importance to Dr. Manmohan Singh's speech, and other news related to Independence Day, showed the SRK Detention episode all day long. Is SRK more important than our Independence Day? Is he more important than our PM? He surely is a powerful and one of the most important personalities in India at present, but not more than our PM or the Independence Day Celebrations. Atleast the news of him being questioned at a US airport for he being a Muslim, surely is not something as important as our Independence Day.
My blood boiled when I swithced on the television sets in the morning to hear what our PM had to say on the eve of our 63rd Independence Day, but the only thing which was shown was the SRK episode, with 'BREAKING NEWS' all over, and unwanted repetition of the same thing again and again by all the news channels.
It was not just the TV news channels, but also the print media (online version), which gave more importance and undue coverage to the SRK detention episode. Have a look at the screen shot which I have attached to this post of the Times Of India website, which has SRK all over, and a small link towards the end, about what our PM had to say regarding the Kashmir issue in his ID speech. Nonsensical coverage for a no-issue.
A major reason of why a large number of our educated 'unaware' youth in India would know the name of SRK's wife but not the name of our President, is thanks to our so-called empowered media, and the way they define & portray importance. And then, the same media say the young generation of India is least interested in the way the country is governed. All this for the sake of TRP's.
The Government's Reaction to SRK Detention - This amazes me the most!!!..more than the way the media reacted.
Within an hour of the SRK detention episode started on the news channels, we had the government and its officials already taking some actions, and making their voices heard. It started from the external affairs ministry putting a case for SRK to the US regarding the detention. Good they did that. Now read this.. Information & Broadcasting Minister, AMBIKA SONI, taking full advantage of the Media which is under her ministry to make a statement as rogue and as shitty like this.....
"I am of the opinion that the way we are frisked, for example I too was frisked, we should also do the same to them".
First of all, she should get her facts correct. In the US, all politicians except for the President, Ex-Presidents & members of the cabinet principals in the US government are not exempt from a security check. Even their ex-vice presidents are checked and screened at their own airports. Point in case, as even the Times of India reports,
"Former vice-president Al Gore has experienced more than once. In one recent incident, an airline employee who helped Gore circumvent security screening at the Nashville airport was pulled up and the former Veep was brought back to go through security, which he did willingly and without making a fuss"
Someone should tell her, that no one is stopping India from checking & screening ex-presidents or ex-vice presidents from the US when they are travelling here. It is only India, who just does not do that. And how could India do such a thing, when there are self-centric and egoistic shameful politicians like AMBIKA SONI in the cabinet saying ' the way we are frisked, for example even I was, we should also do the same'. If you read between the lines and analyse her statement a bit, you would know her statement is not in support of SRK, but is made only to up her own ego & importance. Using SRK's episode was just the medium to come out with her own example.
Finally, the most important bit.
SRK Detention Episode Vs. Dr. Abdul Kalam Frisking Episode - Yes, the media did come out strongly against the frisking of our much loved ex-president Dr. Abdul Kalam which was done by Continental Airlines at our own New Delhi International Airport. And Thank God they did that!
But, what did our governement do then ? - They just ordered a 'probe' into it, that too after 2 months of the unfortunate episode taking place, even though our airport officials knew about it much before it came into public eye. Ordering just a probe into the frisking of your own former president, who under protocol is exempted from any checking at any Indian Airport, and taking up a strong case for SRK to the US government. Is it not totally insane? You take up a case for a filmstar for his questionning at a foreign airport with that country's government, but you only order a probe and give statements such as 'we will ask the concerned people to apologize' for a person who was the SUPREME COMMANDER OF THE INDIAN ARMED FORCES when in position, is simply unapologetic, and a serious and stupid mistake by the Indian government. Only shows disrespect for the most loved and most important president of India.
Continental Airlines apologized but also justified what they did by saying it was 'normal security procedure, and that the airline has no special rule for VIP's or VVIP's". So they mean, that they have no respect for the law of the land as well? Atleast, by their statement that is what we can conclude. Therefore, in such a case, the license to operate in and from India for Continental Airlines should be cancelled without much discussion. But the government did nothing. (Dr. Kalam, was made to remove his shoes, and went through a full body check!!)
I wonder, what would have the Americans did, or the Russians, or the Chinese would have done, if such special treatment was given to their own ex-presidents in their own country by a foreign airline.
I end this with a lot of anger and emotions hurt, and a lot of sadness in the way, our country is governed & ruled. In hope for enlightenment of minds. Inshaalah.
As always,comments welcome.
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Sidharth Mehta
Dubai, UAE
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Key Tags: Shahrukh Khan, SRK, Shahrukh Khan Detained, Dr. Abdul Kalam Frisking, Shahrukh Khan SRK Detention USA, Times of India, Media Reaction to SRK detention episode,Government Reaction to SRK Detention, Sidharth Mehta
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I do like your post, especially the part abount Ambika Soni whose comments I felt were really out of the line considering in the international sphere, nobody really cares about her.Also, I feel this "tit for tat" that is now gonna happen is pretty sad.
ReplyDeleteAs for the Indian media, well, I've really given up hope apart from a few journalists, its all yellow journalism here.
Its a shame that so much unnecessary attention was 'paid' to this not-so-important incident, and on a day, when the media and the govt should have been covering an important once-in-a-year national event!!! And that too, The 63rd Independance Day!
ReplyDeleteThe US immigration officers were only doing their job. Whoever has stopped Indian officials from doing their jobs??? (Ref to Ambika Soni. Whichever planet she's on!!! )If they have never stopped an Angelina Jolie, or a Bradd Pitt, or whoever comes down from Hollywood, its not the actors fault. Why dont they ever look at their incompetence?? Lets not forget, yes, SRK is an icon, a name bigger than image, but not everybody around the world knows him!
The Indian Govt should focus more on their achievements and failures in these 62 yrs, rather than give importance to a 'not-at-all-important' issue, and take it up with authorities, wherever!
Another important question: SRK has been to the US several times, and as of recently due to his upcoming movie "MY Name is KHAN". This incident comes just in time with his new release as well as fits well with the storyline of his forthcoming film(same incident, where a man named KHAN is detained at the airport because of his name). Was SRK not having this issue before, or is his surname 'KHAN' now more popular in the US checklist than ever before???!!! SRK really needs to touch base with ground realities, and face facts of life, that there is a REAL world outside India, which do not believe in VIP treatment when it comes to doing jobs!
He should refrain from making such comments (I have also read in print (Im quoting one source here), he has made an anti-muslim comment recently, hurting the sentiments of Muslims in large. There is an official FIR against him (read the link below for full details. However if proven, non-bailable warrants will be issued against the superstar, MR. KHAN!: http://entertainment.oneindia.in/bollywood/news/2009/shahrukh-khan-warrant-220609.html).
Mr. Khan obviously doesnt know the difference between being 'detained' and being 'questioned'. So what if he is an actor? Be it actors in Hollywood, or Bollywood, or anywhere, we have seen several cases of actors being involved in various crimes, and activities (drugs, accidents, murders, rapes, etc, to name a few).
I wish, the governments and the media, could take up cases of many innocent people, who get victimised on a daily basis, due to religious discrimination. Unfortunately there is too much of Islamophobia around us. Please pay attention to those innocent victims, and stop wasting your time behind celluloid monkeys! Touch your base with ground realities Mr. Khan.
Now that we have some more details about what really happened in the US regarding SRK - It is pretty much clear that he was not at all detained!! - a secondary check is a usual procedure of questioning people who have similar names to 'Most Wanted' people in the US database..
ReplyDeleteGiven the great marketer SRK is, he basically chose to 'chance pe dance' and make an issue out of it, by sms-ing the media/congress party officials .. He obviously knew, that the Media shall do the rest by over blowing the entire episode, and multiplying the effect all around the world.... All this to gain some publicity for his up-coming movie 'My Name Is Khan' , of which, ironically, the distribution rights have been sold to FOX Studios (USA Based) for Rs 98 Crores - the highest ever for any Indian movie.
Obviously, he needs to give back something to FOX who has invested such big money into his/karan johar's project ... and what a great way to publicise the movie all around the world.
I wonder, the one call which he made when the US officials allowed him to, was an SOS (emergency) call, or was it to his/'My Name Is Khan's PR/Media agency to take a go ahead for this great opportunity!
Keep guessing! but one thing for sure - he is the greatest marketer and opportunistic person in the Indian Film Industry.
Ufffffff!!!!! I wish I could have found a better word in dictionary to express my anger and frustration over this incident! It is so over-exaggerated and so hyped up by the media and the Indian govt, and by the looks of it, seems they dont have much work on hand these days, than to pay so much attention to a not-a-big-deal issue. I wonder what they were doing when APJ Abdul Kalam was frisked???
ReplyDeleteThis is not the first time SRK was visiting US. 8 yrs since the 9/11 attacks, does SRK's common name 'Khan' surprisingly pop up on the US immigration officers' screen as the most popular name while he is visiting the US to promote his upcoming movie (coincidentally, his reel episode is ditto is his real experience!)His forthcoming movie "My Name is KHAN" has the same storyline, whereby, a Muslim man, by the name Khan, is visiting the US and is detained at the airport. One would only question, if this is just a publicity stunt? This incident has already created a stir of the movie pre-release, and we can already foresee a 'hit of the year', 'SRK best actor of the year'; 2)There is a huge difference between being 'detained' and 'questioned'. Mr. 'Khan' was questioned less than 2 hours (online media now reporting it exact 66 mns, and a little more delay due to loss of baggage by the airline).
Priyanka Chopra, his fellow colleague has been tweeting saying 'Shocking, disturbing n downright disgraceful. It's such behavior that fuels hatred and racism. SRK's a world figure for God's sake. Get real!'. A question for her and Ambika Soni (whatever is she thinking wanting a tit-for-tat!): what planet are they on? Would they have condemned the US authorities in the same manner had it not been a public figure, but just a common man, out there visiting US, and then detained at the airport because he has a 'popular' name popping up on their screens? There are many innocent victims out there who are subject to racial, religious discrimination everyday, and wait for the authorities to help them. And 'world figure'? Please get real! Yes, he is a public figure, but the question is, what excludes him from not being involved in any criminal activities? Let's not forget popular cases as Sunjay Dutt, Salman Khan, and the most recent being Shiney Ahuja. The same is the case for the West too.
These actors need to get a grip on reality and set foot on ground and remember there exists a real world outside the celluloid. These actors have always made statements in media saying they are only human, and normal people wanting to live a normal life. Well, about time you guys got real then. I wonder what even makes them think, that in the line of duty, they will be spared and treated as a VIP as they are backhome?!
A mole has been made out of a hole. The incident is indeed sad, but does not deserve an entire day 'breaking news' coverage on the 62nd Independance of India. SRK's questioning was part of a routine process. This news got undue coverage, and the reaction of the public in India is outrageous!
Journalism sucks these days. Media can really either make peace within a nation, or take a nation to war! You look out for true valuable news, and all you get in return is dumb minds, chasing dumb monkeys, and making asses out of themselves!
Welcome to the real world!!!
sid... we think alike. put my name with urs in the blog too ;)
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