Amir Khan urged to meet with Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan to update about the work of Paani Foundation, which is a non-governmental organization established by the actor and his wife Kiran Rao, which works in drought area. After Turkish First Lady Emine Erdogan obliged Amir Khan’s appeal, the actor met her at the presidential residence at the Huber Mansion in Istanbul, on 15 August, when India was celebrating 74th Independence Day.
Is it relevant to apprise Turkish president Erdogan of India’s water related or other social issues? Turkish president Erdogan had openly supported Pakistan’s stance on the Kashmir conflict and criticised India after New Delhi revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 of the Constitution on 5 August 2019, at United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in October last year. Thereafter, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had cancelled a two-day official visit to Turkey, where he was supposed to attend an investment summit on 27 and 28 October last year.
After attacking India over abrogation of Article 370 at the global platform, Erdogan also supported Pakistan at the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) meeting. On 14 February 2020, Erdogan had compared “the struggle of Kashmiri people” with that of the fight by Turkish people against foreign domination during the World War I.
Which citizen in his right mind—to get help for his NGO—would approach a foreign country’s president, who has been offending his nation and its policies? If Indian leadership doesn’t allow help from Turkey for so called ‘Paani foundation’ run by the actor and his wife, what would Amir Khan achieve by this meeting?
What is common between Bollywood actor Amir Khan and Turkish president Erdogan? Erdogan maligns India on international stage, while Amir Khan defames his own country on national platform. It is to be noted on November 2015, Amir Khan had said his wife suggested moving out of India as she feared for the safety of their children. It’s been almost five years, Amir Khan’s family didn’t move out of India, but blatantly disgraced their own country. If hypocrisy has a name, it would be Amir Khan and his wife Kiran Rao, because they fall silent whenever there is riot carried out by so called minority, actually the second largest population of India.
India provides its citizens unrestrained amount of freedom and free speech. That is what emboldened Amir Khan to meet Turkish president Erdogan, otherwise the actor must be fully aware of how Turkey has been spewing venom against India’s elected Government and its policies and how it has been supporting terrorist hub Pakistan. But, India must ask Amir Khan, “Why didn’t he attend the event, ‘Shalom Bollywood’ organised for Israeli PM Netanyahu?
According to an intelligence report, the Turkish Embassy in Delhi is indulging to forge alliances with Indian NGOs, with an intention to lure and engage those Indian activists who can serve Ankara’s agenda and those who can be sent to Turkey on exposure trips to speak against India. Is it coincident that Amir Khan met Erogan to speak on his NGO, Paani?
What is to be highlighted is that in April 2006 Amir Khan had protested against the Gujarat government’s decision to raise the height of the Narmada dam, the Sardar Sarovar Dam. In the garb of justice for the displaced people, who had been well compensated, Amir Khan threw his weight to stall the construction of Sardar Sarovar Dam, which was meant to provide water to people of Gujarat, badly affected by scarcity of water.
The Narmada Bachao Andolan activists were accused of holding up the project’s completion and of even physically attacking local people who accepted compensation for moving. Amir Khan was part of such activists.
Amir Khan—who runs an NGO, Paani, who pulled all the stops to stall Sardar Sarovar Dam—also endorses Coke brand. A small 500 ml bottle of Coca-Cola takes almost 2 litres of water to make it. Hypocrisy is an exhibition of double standard, which is practice of saying something and acting opposite to it. Isn’t Amir Khan—who met Turkish First Lady Emine Erdogan to speak about his NGO Paani—is perfect example of ‘hypocrisy,’ because he is well aware how Turkey is trying hard to harm and hurt India?
India must watch out the development around this meeting.
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Aamir Khan, jo thali me khate ho usine chhed ? Shame on you. Why this hypocrisy ? Is it prayaschit of ‘Narmada Roko’? Or is it yet another publicity stunt ?