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| PDP-BJP cash in on Kher's airport 'arrest' | | |
Hyder Ali
Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Apr 11: The Government decision to detain Bollywood actor Anupam Kher at the Srinagar International Airport on Sunday to prevent him from visiting the troubled NIT campus here was allegedly a "fixed match" between the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as both the parties cashed in on the curbs on him.
Sources said the two parties unanimously resolved that Kher be made to take the next flight back home. They said the Jammu and Kashmir Police got inputs about Kher's visit from multiple sources including some BJP leaders who were aware of his visit to Kashmir. "Otherwise how would State police get to know beforehand that Kher was arriving?" asked an insider at the airport.
Sources said the moment Kher took flight from New Delhi, a high level of team of police officials including Deputy Inspector General of Police Central Kashmir range Ghulam Hassan Bhat and a Senior Superintendent of Police Budgam Fayaz Ahmed Lone rushed to the airport to be present for his landing.
Sources said Kher who was taken straight to the VIP lounge where the police top brass and some other "meaningful voices" held closed-door deliberations with the visiting actor.
The police is understood to have had inputs that if Kher visits NIT, firebrand separatist leader including Mohammad Yasin Malik would lead a counter rally to engineering college, something which could have put the security forces in a tight spot over maintenance of law and order in the restive area.
"On the other hand, the PDP wanted to show action against rightwing forces. Stopping Kher helped us to achieve his goal to a large extent," said a PDP leader, pleading anonymity.
Sources said by the time Kher was onboard flight to Kashmir, the JK Government was getting his return ticket finalized for the next flight. "Finally after chitchat with the official machinery, Kher phoned someone and subsequently agreed to fly back instantly," the sources privy to meeting told Early Times.
Both PDP and BJP cashed in on his visit. While PDP youth leader Waheed Ur Rehman Parra hailed his Government for having send the firebrand actor back, the BJP leaders said Kher wanted to show support to the outstation students.
"Basically BJP wanted to show support to the outstation but it equally didn't want to create a situation where coalition would be at stake," said a source.
Kher aspired to visit NIT Srinagar to express solidarity with non-local students who have been on protest following clashes with local students after an India-West Indies cricket match on March 31. But following negotiations with the police he flew back by an IndiGo flight.
Last month some Kashmiri students had celebrated India's loss to the West Indies. This was opposed by some non-local students, triggering unrest and clashes. The non-local students allege they were beaten up by police.
Meanwhile Kher expressed unhappiness on being stopped at the airport. "I have been told by police that I cannot enter Srinagar city at all. I have asked them to show me the orders," he tweeted. "Asked police if I can visit my ancestral home or Kheer Bhawani temple. Even that is not allowed. Basically it is airport arrest," he said. |
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