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Visa woes: Anupam Kher won't be attending the Karachi Literature Festival

India media reports that Kher was denied a Pakistani visa, the actor tweets his disappointment

Updated 02 Feb, 2016

Bollywood veteran Anupam Kher was one of the several celebrities speaking at the Karachi Literature Festival (KLF) this weekend, but Indian media reports state that the actor has been denied a Pakistani visa.

Speaking to the news agency ANI, Kher said, "I am very sad and disappointed that out of 18 participants, 17 were given visa and I was denied."

He also expressed his disappointment on Twitter:

However, the Pakistan High Commission stated on Twitter that Kher never applied for a Pakistani visa:

Kher has Kher has previously been very outspoken in his criticism of Aamir Khan, who expressed concern that India might be becoming increasingly intolerant. But just this week, in what was perceived by many as a U-turn, Kher said he was scared to say he's a Hindu because people might label him as RSS or a BJP fanatic.

KLF is hosting several luminaries from India, including director/actor Nandita Das, transgender rights activist Laxmi Tripathi and Indian journalist Barkha Dutt.

While Nandita Das has received her visa and will be attending, Kher is off the agenda.

The festival begins on Friday, February 5.

Comments

ROHIT PANDEY Feb 02, 2016 12:07pm

Is this a "tolerant" or an "intolerant" act?:):):)

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khan Feb 02, 2016 12:07pm

i think he did not even apply for it.

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joe Feb 02, 2016 12:08pm

Out of 18 who applied 17 granted.He was denied. May be because he is a Kashmir pandit ,his wife a BJP MP and he a strong supporter of Modi. Loss is of organisers and public.

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Viking Star Feb 02, 2016 12:08pm

I think we should not follow in line with India's visa policy towards Pakistanis. The likes of Anupam Kher are role models for great "people to people" relationship between the two countries. Love you AK!

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DeepakM Feb 02, 2016 12:15pm

Not good for both countires

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Qamar Valliani Feb 02, 2016 12:40pm

Anupum Kher and Indian medias are creating unnecessary tensions. He applied and was denied Pak visa. That is the end of the matter.

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Sanjeeb Bose Feb 02, 2016 12:42pm

Very unfortunate that Anupam is denied Visa... This only proves that there is two sides of same coin...

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ahmad Feb 02, 2016 12:45pm

Good that he is not allowed. I was a big fan of Anu but after his exterm views regarding religion and towards Pakistan I am very disappointed

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Gagan Feb 02, 2016 12:46pm

Why he has been denied to speak in Pakistan??

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NARENDRA Feb 02, 2016 12:54pm

Very silly move by Pakistan authorities.

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Nausheen M Feb 02, 2016 12:54pm

As you sow, so shall you reap.

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Sameer Feb 02, 2016 12:58pm

Anupam kher is Kashmiri and he has spoken lot on Kashmiri pundits ....that is the reason for this

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Haroon Rashid Khan Feb 02, 2016 01:19pm

He should post the receipt of his visa application so that we know he actually did

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Indian Feb 02, 2016 01:48pm

@khan organizers who invites they apply , so is the case with other participants

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Bad _indeed Feb 02, 2016 02:13pm

This is sad event, in case if India reciprocate it would be more bad for Pakistani artist + how about extending ppl to ppl contact? This guy being artist, news will spared like hell and an India commoner will again have negative mindset for Pakistan. Not a good move.

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jawad Feb 02, 2016 02:18pm

So he excepted Pak HC should have gone to Mr. Kher home and handed him the Pak Visa personally!! :D

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Peshawari Feb 02, 2016 02:24pm

We must give him visa and to all indian celebrities.

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jawad Feb 02, 2016 02:33pm

Btw even Pakistanis with dual citizens aboard have hard times getting Pakistani visa, so what makes Mr. Kher so eligible for pak visa?

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M.Saeed Feb 02, 2016 03:09pm

Visa application of Kher most probably has been stopped by the Indian intelligence agencies for his habit of making sudden U-turns that might embarrass Indian Government.

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Jaago Feb 02, 2016 03:34pm

What is Pakistan scared of? To have the likes of Nandita Das or Barkha Dutt will give ppl a biased view of Indian thought.

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Amjad Ali Feb 02, 2016 03:43pm

good he is not coming.... as he is die hard anti Pak person.

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Mujeeb Feb 02, 2016 04:01pm

I think he should have been give Visa for the audience. They were waiting for him anxiously.

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Nida Feb 02, 2016 04:34pm

Sad for public!

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Azmeen Feb 02, 2016 04:38pm

Why he expected visa when he never applied for the one?

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Salih Feb 02, 2016 06:01pm

@Qamar Valliani ...YES...where is the media when our players were not allowed for a Int event last year.

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Daft Feb 02, 2016 06:41pm

@Bad _indeed You better be more concerned about India's image in Pakistan.

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Raj Feb 02, 2016 06:44pm

Someone in Pakistan never want people to people contact due to some hidden agenda.

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SPANISH BUTTER Feb 02, 2016 06:51pm

SAD NEWS !!

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dawn Feb 02, 2016 07:21pm

Good.

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Vijay Feb 02, 2016 07:31pm

I don't know any details about this Kher episode, but there is no right to visit a foreign country. A VISA can be denied without giving any explanation and Pakistan has the right to do so. Even the Indian Visa application clearly states that a VISA can be denied without giving any explanation.

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Pratap Feb 02, 2016 07:39pm

The Festival Director Ameena Saiyid had said this on Indian news channel that the Pakistan high commission dint give clearance to Anupam Kher Visa despite the matter being pursued by both Anupam Kher and Festival organizers on daily basis.

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Chinmay Feb 02, 2016 07:47pm

@Haroon Rashid Khan check his twitter account...he has proved it !!

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NHA Feb 02, 2016 07:57pm

@Bad _indeed . Black mailing is not accepted. Anupam Kher himself said what some one else may have had to say in response to visa refusal. Pak does not invite guests to listen to lecture on Kashmir pundits. Other 17 invitees, who received visa are as important asMr Kher thinks he was.

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Arslan Feb 02, 2016 09:21pm

@joe there's no loss to Pak public ..

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Asif Feb 02, 2016 11:13pm

Why is it so hard for people to realize that he never actually applied for the Visa?

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Bin Adam Feb 03, 2016 12:38am

Pakistan High Commission at New Delhi has unequivocally stated that they never received any visa application for Anupam Kher, as also reported by BBC. There is no reason for denying visa to Mr. Kher. As a BJP supporter whatever was his views regarding tolerance and intolerance issue was his democratic right. In democracy even the top Political Leaders of the world have shown entirely opposite views but are equally respected. So the organizers and audience of the literary moot at Karachi will extend to him equal respect with hearty welcome. He should investigate why his visa application was not moved?

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Syed ahmer Feb 03, 2016 01:20am

If Indian government send packing to rahat ali our best no body crying wolf , why so about Khair please stop the religious fights Hindu&Muslims tolerances

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PakSal Feb 03, 2016 07:08am

No one is talking about the 17 out of 18 who got visas :D

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umair khan Feb 03, 2016 08:54am

i think just for security reson pakistan reject visa Application for kher becoz last few days Major blast in chardada peshawar pakistan so may b security reason for kher protection

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ali Feb 03, 2016 08:57am

If you don't apply, how you will get the visa, is it a rocket science?

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vikas Feb 03, 2016 04:33pm

Pakistan commission says AK never applied for visa. But they are not confirming that other 17 members applied for visa. In fact it is now becoming clear that none of the members applied for visa.

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