Imran Khan not Indian citizen, should have avoided Mumbai protest: Chirag Paswan

Patna: Union Minister Chirag Paswan on Sunday questioned Bollywood actor Imran Khan's participation in a Mumbai protest demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, arguing that the actor, who holds American citizenship, should not have joined political demonstrations in India.

Paswan's remarks came days after Khan, an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholder, was reportedly served a "leave India" notice for allegedly violating provisions of the Foreigners' Act following his participation in the protest against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Speaking to reporters in Patna, the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief said he admired Khan as an actor but maintained that his long association with the Indian film industry did not make him an Indian citizen.

"I like the actor and his work. But he should have realised that he did not become an Indian citizen just by virtue of having worked in the country for so long. If citizens take part in protests here, I respect that. But when foreign nationals do that if is a matter of concern. As part of the Union government, I am concerned over the attempts to create anarchy in the country, with the backing of foreign powers," Paswan said.

The Union minister described protests against the electoral roll revision exercise as attempts to create instability and alleged that foreign powers were backing such activities. He did not cite specific evidence to substantiate the allegation.

Khan, the nephew of Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan, was born in the United States and holds American citizenship. Although he grew up in India and established his career in Bollywood, he is not an Indian citizen.

The actor reportedly received the notice after attending a demonstration in Mumbai demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar amid protests over the SIR exercise.

The development has brought attention to the actor's citizenship status and the legal restrictions applicable to OCI cardholders participating in political activities in India.

Paswan, who represents Bihar's Hajipur constituency in the Lok Sabha, had also briefly pursued an acting career before entering politics.

Meanwhile, the Union minister criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his political engagements in Goa, contrasting his schedule with Union Home Minister Amit Shah's decision to cancel programmes in Kolkata following a deadly stampede.

The stampede at a Durga Puja pandal in North Kolkata claimed 19 lives, prompting Shah, who had arrived in the city on Saturday night, to cancel his scheduled Puja-related engagements on Sunday.

Shah subsequently visited a private hospital where several people injured in the tragedy were undergoing treatment.

Paswan praised the Home Minister for demonstrating "sensitivity" in the aftermath of the incident.

Referring to Gandhi's scheduled rally in Goa, where Assembly elections are due in the coming months, Paswan accused the opposition of prioritising political activities over public tragedies.

"It shows the difference in priorities. On the one hand, we have our home minister who is sensitive towards a tragedy, and on the other, we have the opposition for which nothing matters more than politics," he said.

The remarks marked a fresh political attack by Paswan on the Congress leadership, even as questions surrounding Khan's participation in the Mumbai demonstration and the notice reportedly issued to him continued to attract attention.