Kolkata: Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan is the brand ambassador of West Bengal for almost a decade now. Shahrukh Khan is also one of the owners of Kolkata Knight Riders.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has publicly called Shahrukh Khan her younger brother. She even goes to drop her ‘younger brother’ at the airport.
Pictures of Bengal CM and Bollywood superstar are being shared with their ‘closeness’ being stated as a reason behind the ‘framing’ of Shahrukh Khan’s son by the agencies.
It’s almost 21 days since the Bollywood superstar’s son was arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB). The way Aryan was arrested is itself controversial as at the site of arresting a BJP cadre and a private detective were also present; NCB has also not denied it. Also, the bail being denied to the 23-year-old lad who has no history of any offence has been questioned by many experts.
However, Mamata Banerjee, who is also known as a firebrand leader for her speeches and remained vocal in politics has maintained a silence on the issue.
Significantly, on October 3, the day, people of Bhawanipore had ensured that Mamata would continue her third term as the chief minister of Bengal, Aryan Khan was detained for participating in a rave party.
The win at 2021 assembly polls and later in Bhawanipore has made Banerjee the strongest leader ever. But neither she, nor the two other leaders of Trinamool Congress, Derek O’Brien and Mahua Moitra who tweet on national issues have tweeted so far on the arrest of Aryan Khan.
CM of Maharashtra Udhav Thackrey has openly criticized NCB for portraying Maharashtra as the hub of narcotics. Thackrey also requested Chief Justice of India NV Ramana to take suo-moto cognizance of the arrest. A Shiv Sena leader has moved a plea in Supreme Court for the protection of the fundamental rights of Aryan.
Nationalist Congress Party leader and a minister in Maharashtra government, Nawab Malik has been regularly holding press conferences to highlight the major loopholes in the NCB raid, which led to the arrest of Aryan Khan.
For the past few days, social media has been buzzing with common people showing their love for Shahrukh Khan and expressing how injustice is being done to him, as a father.
Social organizations, All India Progressive Women Association (AIPWA), All India Student Association (AISA) and Inquilabi Naujawan Sabha (RYA) jointly issued a statement and highlighted how the court denied bail based on ‘Guilt of Association’ which is a kind of mockery of justice.
“I will not say whether Bengal CM chief minister Mamata Banerjee should comment on it or not. But what is happening with Aryan Khan is like justice delayed is justice denied,” reacted Ujjaini Halim, a social activist based out of Kolkata.
Mohammed Reyaz, assistant professor at Aliah University thinks, “It is a matter of choice for a politician whether to speak or not. But, the kind of bond Didi and SRK shares, even matter being sub-judice, she can at least stand with SRK as a sister, publicly.”
