Pakistani artistes should be welcomed in India: Shashi Tharoor

'Create an umbrella where artists, fashion designers and genuine businesspersons interact more frequently'

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has said he favours inviting Pakistani artistes, creative people and businessmen to India, in a bid to boost bilateral ties.

"We should welcome creative people, artistes and genuine businessmen (from Pakistan) to India," Tharoor said, during a debate in the Tata Literature Live Festival in Mumbai on Friday.

"We have to create a 'home away from home' situation for them," he said, adding that hostility between the two countries "can be a mood but not a policy".



ADHM controversy

The parliamentarian also expressed displeasure on how the Ae Dil Hai Mushkil controversy was handled by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

As the Karan Johar movie starred Pakistani actor Fawad Khan, it was opposed by Fadnavis. On this, Tharoor said, "Certainly no Congress Chief Minister would have ever negotiated (with outfits like MNS)".

The Raj Thackeray-led party later agreed on the condition that the producers would give a donation to Army welfare fund. Fadnavis, however, denied brokering the 'deal' between MNS and the KJo.

Being a part of the 'India and Pakistan can never be friends' debate, Tharoor suggested that cooperation between the people would improve bilateral ties.

"Create an umbrella where artists, fashion designers and genuine businesspersons would interact more frequently, form associations which would create a constituency of goodwill," he said.