He later apologised saying he's ready to be jailed for his comments. PHOTO: FILE
A police complaint has been filed against veteran actor Om Puri for his comments that were found to be insulting to Indian soldiers by a section of the film industry.
Complainant Prithvi Maske said, “Referring to the Indian Army and soldiers, he (Om Puri) said that we had not given the invitation to the soldiers of the Indian Army. They joined the army at their will.”
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During a debate on a TV channel, Om Puri said on Monday: “Did we force them to join the army? My father was also in the army… We are proud of them (soldiers)… I am asking you: Do you want India and Pakistan to become Israel and Palestine?
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“I don’t give a damn to Salman Khan or some other Khan… Go to Modiji (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) and cancel their (Pakistani actors’) visas. Prepare 15-20 people as suicide bombers and send them to Pakistan.”
Here’s what he said:
Celebrities including filmmaker Ashoke Pandit and veteran actor Anupam Kher came out against Om Puri after his comments on the channel.
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He later apologised for his insulting remarks saying, “I am very embarrassed. I first apologise to Nitin (a Uri attack martyr) family. I salute him for sacrificing his life for our safety. We have been making such sacrifices in the past too.”
“I just wanted to tell my friends that it’s time to celebrate because we taught a lesson to our enemy,” he added.
“I urge the entire nation to give me any punishment for that. But if they don’t want to end this debate and forgive me, then I am willing to be jailed for six months,” he further said.
The film industry has been divided on the issue of banning Pakistani artistes in the wake of the September 18 Uri attack that left 19 Indian soldiers dead.
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My respect of Mr Om Puri has increased ten folds.
God bless him for being an honest man and a courageous man in these times of insanity and intolerance. Recommend
It is very painful that some people on both side of border are not ready to listen the voices of Peace and Love.Recommend
What is the benefit of these kinds of fighting and conflicts between India and Pakistan. Are the people of both these countries the beneficiary? Not at all. So why waste all this time and resources in conflict when you can invest these same resources in poverty eradication and education Recommend
Indian Media is promoting hatred and overall India has become such an intolerant nation under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi.Recommend
So much for fredoom of speech. It was more assult then conversation. Reading indian people reaction. They just dont want to accept any other view. Recommend
I watched this discussion and I can say that Indian anchors are no less evil. The bottom line is that Pakistani actors are legally in India on work permits. It’s government’s job to cancel their work permits and ask them to leave. The behaviour of certain Indians prove that they are mean, uncivilized and absolutely not worthy to be citizens of a great country. Recommend
An excellent saying of westerners for the Indian mentality as of Modi & like-minded, “either they are at your throat or lying in your feet!”Recommend
but what he said,did we force them to join the army, statement to me is brilliant,revolutionary,and makes sense,and truth about all armies.Recommend
@Ali:
you are either illiterate or mentally deranged. Ask those like Burhan Wani who laid their lives for freedom from a tyrinical regime that has illegally occupied their land.Recommend