Baba Ramdev attacks Shahrukh Khan, says he must return his awards

Yoga guru Baba Ramdev on Wednesday lashed out against Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan for his recent remark on the "growing religious intolerance" in the country, and said whatever the actor said is mere rhetoric.

Hitting out at Shahrukh, Ramdev said the actor should give up his Padmashree Award and all the money that came his way following the laurel if he is genuinely concerned over religious intolerance.

"Sab hawabaazi hain (All these are empty talks). If Shahrukh is really concerned, he must give up his Padmashree Award," Ramdev said in Ranchi. "If he is willing to protest, he must also make a draft of all the money he made after winning the award and donate it to the Prime Minister's (relief) fund," the yoga guru added. Baba Ramdev was inaugurating an Anganwaadi center in the state capital and was flanked by state ministers Lois Marandi, CP Singh and Neera Yadav on the dais.

On his 50th birthday two days earlier, the actor had said that there is extreme intolerance in the country. Further explaining his stand, Shahrukh had said not being secular is the worst thing one can do as a patriot. Though the actor did not comment on whether he will return his laurels as a show of protest, Shahrukh made it apparently clear he was supporting the writers, artists and scientists in their act of returning laurels to protest what they see as a growing intolerance in the country.

BJP leader Vijayvargiya attacks Shah Rukh Khan, says his soul in Pakistan

NEW DELHI: Senior BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya on Tuesday attacked Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan over his "extreme intolerance" comment, saying his "soul" is in Pakistan though he lives in India and also painted him as an "anti-nationalist".

The comments by Vijayvargiya, a BJP general secretary and a former state minister, came notwithstanding the refrain of top BJP leaders in the recent weeks that insensitive comments should be avoided by partymen. Vijayvargiya is one of the party strategists for the Bihar assembly elections.

"Shah Rukh lives in India, but his soul is in Pakistan. His films make crores here but he still thinks India to be intolerant," he said in a series of tweets amid mounting concerns over the "climate of intolerance" in the country.

"If this is not anti-nationalist, then what is it. India is making a bid to become a permanent member of the United Nations and all the anti-Indian forces including Pakistan are creating a conspiracy," he said.

The BJP leader alleged that the attempt to create an "environment of intolerance" in the country is part of the conspiracy

"Shahrukh's comment about intolerance points that he is matching the tunes with Pakistan and anti-Indian forces," he said.

"Today when the entire world is respecting India, talking about increase in intolerance makes the country weak in front of the world."

The BJP leader also posed a question to Shah Rukh over blasts in Mumbai.

"When hundreds of people died in the 1993 blast in Mumbai, then where was Shah Rukh Khan. When Mumbai was attacked on 26/11, where was Shah Rukh Khan," he added.

Turning 50 on Monday, Shah Rukh came out strongly against what he called "extreme intolerance" in the country, saying intolerance towards creativity and religion will hurt the country.

"There is intolerance, there is extreme intolerance ... there is I think ... there is growing intolerance," he said.

"It is stupid ... It is stupid to be intolerant and this is our biggest issue not just an issue ... Religious intolerance and not being secular in this country is the worst kind of crime that you can do as a patriot," he added.