Trouble does not seem to end for cricketer-turned politician Navjot Singh Sidhu in the aftermath of his controversial remarks about the Pulwama terror attack. There was no doubt about the fact that Pakistan had plotted and carried out the dastardly terror attack on the CRPF convoy in Pulwama which resulted in the martyrdom of more than 40 CRPF soldiers. The episode had shaken the conscience of the entire nation and Navjot Singh Sidhu had decided to come out defending Pakistan after the attack.
While Pakistan had come under heavy criticism from the Indian citizens over and above isolation from the International community, Sidhu had taken a bizarre stance on the Pulwama issue. Navjot Singh Sidhu, who is a minister in the Amarinder Singh led Punjab government had stated, “for a handful of people, can you blame the entire nation and can you blame an individual? It (the attack) is a cowardly act and I condemn it firmly. Violence is always condemnable and those who did it must be punished.” This did not go down well with the people of India for obvious reasons.
In what can be called yet another setback for Navjot Singh Sidhu, he has been banned by the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE). This was a unanimous decision taken at a meeting of the federation held in Mumbai. It has been reported that in a letter addressed to the Managing Director of Film City, Mumbai, officially known as Dadasaheb Phalke Chitranagari, Goregaon, FWICE has clearly stated that all Pakistani actors along with Navjot Singh Sidhu should not be allowed to take part in shooting in their studious. This is, therefore, a complete ban on Navjot Singh Sidhu and he is clearly facing appropriate consequences for his callous and insensitive remarks.
IFTDA (Indian Film And Television Directors Association) has just released a statement confirming Navjot Singh Sidhu’s removal from The Kapil Sharma Show and has also mentioned the termination of all his services with Sony Entertainment channel. Moreover, IFTDA has also pledged not to work with Sidhu anymore.
Sidhu’s endless love for Pakistan and its Prime Minister Imran Khan has created many controversies in the past as well. His act of attending Imran Khan’s oath taking ceremony and hugging Pakistan Army chief Bajwa had also created uproar. Once, during the Kasauli Literature Festival, Sidhu had even gone on to say, “……….Neither the language changes in Pakistan nor the people living there. But when you go to South India, everything changes from language to even the staple food. You need to learn English or Telugu if you want to live there, but there is no such compulsion in Pakistan.”
FWICE deserves to be applauded for the bold and tough move that it has taken. This will send across a strong message and make it amply clear that the nation is going to boycott Pakistan, its citizens, as well as its sympathisers in India. The country has made up its mind to be unforgiving towards those who still find it convenient to defend Pakistan despite the terrorist country’s nefarious designs.