A viral message doing rounds on social media ascribes the following quote to Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan – “पाकिस्तान के कलाकारों का बहिष्कार हुआ तो मे देश छोडुंगा (I will leave the country if Pakistani artists are boycotted).” From a Facebook group नमो भक्त। हर नमो समर्थक जुड़ते ही अपने 50 मित्रो को अवश्य जोड़े। (Namo Bhakt), the message has 1,400 likes and 358 shares.
The message has been shared on other right-wing Facebook groups as well – BJP SOCIAL MEDIA(बीजेपी सोशल मिडिया), Sudhir Chaudhary, भा.ज.पा : Mission 2019, Modi Mission 2019.
It has also been circulated by a few Twitter users.
पाकिस्तान के कलाकारों का बहिष्कार हुआ तो मे देश छोडुंगा -शाहरुख खान
— Sumaira Khan (@Sumairakhan_) February 22, 2019
Fake quote attributed to Shah Rukh Khan
Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan did not make the aforementioned statement. No media reports substantiate the claims that Khan said that he will leave India if the country bans Pakistani artists.
The actor had condemned the Pulwama attack on February 15, offering condolences to the families of the martyred soldiers.
Heartfelt condolences to the families of our valiant jawans. May the souls of our countrymen who laid their lives down for us rest in peace. #Pulwama
— Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) February 15, 2019
On February 18, All India Cine Workers Association announced a total ban on Pakistani actors and artists working in the Indian film industry.
All India Cine Workers Association announce a total ban on Pakistani actors and artists working in the film industry. #PulwamaAttack pic.twitter.com/QpSMUg9r8b
— ANI (@ANI) February 18, 2019
The above-mentioned piece of misinformation wasn’t the sole instance when Shah Rukh Khan was targetted after the Pulwama terror attack. Earlier, fake news that the actor had donated Rs 45 crores to Pakistan but did not offer aid to martyred soldiers in India was viral. The actor has, in fact, found himself in the crosshairs of misinformation several times in the past.
Independent journalism that speaks truth to power and is free of corporate and political control is possible only when people start contributing towards the same. Please consider donating towards this endeavour to fight fake news and misinformation.
