India Protests US Detention Of Bollywood Star Shah Rukh Khan
By VOA
India is criticizing the detention of Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan by U.S. immigration officials.
Khan was on his way to speak at Yale University Thursday when immigration authorities questioned him for nearly two hours at White Plains Airport in New York state.
The actor arrived at the airport from India in a private plane. He was released after getting immigration clearance.
Indian officials say External Affairs Minister S. M. Krishna has asked India’s Ambassador to Washington Nirumpama Rao to take up the matter with the highest officials in the United States.
In 2009, Khan was detained for two hours at Newark Airport in the eastern U.S. state of New Jersey.
Indian Foreign ministry officials said Friday that the “repeated” targeting of Khan is not coincidental and that a “mechanical apology” is not enough.
The Bollywood actor joked about the incident while speaking to Yale University students Thursday.
He said “Yes it always happens, it’s nice. Whenever I start feeling arrogant about myself, I always take a trip to America.” Khan added, “the immigration guys kick the stars out of stardom.”
The 46-year-old Indian actor was at Yale to accept a Chubb Fellowship at the university. Khan has been in nearly 80 movies.
