Former Pakistani celebrity and now Indian citizen, Adnan Sami is under fire for receiving the ‘Padma Shri’, a prestigious civilian award in India. Yet ‘minor politicians’ are not happy about him receiving the civilian accolade. So much that they are bringing his Pakistani father, a military man, to vilify Adnan.
Ethno-politics are nothing new in Pakistan or India. Time and again, some citizens are ordered to ‘prove their loyalty’. This is what seems to be happening to Adnan rigt now.
Politicians like Congress spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill, and Maharashtra Minorities Development Minister and NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik are asserting that’s what Adnan Sami’s award was for.
'Magic of govt chamchagiri': Congress slams govt over Padma Shri to Adnan Sami | Deccan Herald https://t.co/lj4zr2fRx6
— Jaiveer Shergill (@JaiveerShergill) January 26, 2020
Whoever will chant Jai Modi will get citizenship or Padma Shri https://t.co/1LPll584HT
— Nawab Malik نواب ملک नवाब मलिक (@nawabmalikncp) January 28, 2020
ALSO READ
India’s Ruling Party Uses Old Moin Akhtar Clip for Propaganda, Pakistanis Strike Back
Twitter Spat and Point Scoring
Adnan Sami’s Twitter spat with Jaiveer Shergill is said to have stirred a political debate on the issue. Sami asserts he was targeted as part of a political agenda.
“They have their own political agenda and issues with the government and they are using my name as another step to try and further their agenda,”
Uncle,i can reply in ur language but “Indian” culture teaches us to be respectful even to our enemies-u jumped border only recently so guess ur still learning.
Objection is to Policy of declaring Indian Soldier as foreigner & giving award to family of a Pak soldier.Good Day🙏 https://t.co/Tz8JxEqOur
— Jaiveer Shergill (@JaiveerShergill) January 27, 2020
Meanwhile, Nawab Malik dubbed the musician’s award a political ploy for ‘damage control’, following internal and international backlash on the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA 2019) and National Register of Citizens(NRC).
Sami’s argument that during the Congress government’s rule he was awarded the Naushad award as a Pakistani citizen at that time further complicated matters. People then brought up his father’s ties to Rajiv Gandhi.
“Now I am an Indian citizen, perfectly entitled to be given this award. They are bringing the Pakistani element, it is funny, hilarious. They are picking up on something because they don’t have anything else to pick up on.”
https://twitter.com/goyalsanjeev/status/1221898773900578818
Sins of the Fathers Visited Upon Sons
Adnan Sami defended himself and his Padma Shri, asserting that while his father was indeed a Pakistani Air Force pilot, the Padma Shri has nothing to do with his father’s actions.
ALSO READ
Adnan Sami Gets Trolled over Pro-India Tweet
The musician asks ‘in what world is a son blamed for a father’s actions’. He asserts that he gave 20 years of music to India and his nationality cannot be questioned. If there are reservations on his music for which he won the award that would be reasonable.
“The people who are criticizing are some minor politicians. They are doing it because of some political agenda that they have and it has nothing to do with me. I am not a politician, I am a musician.”
अदनान सामी म्हणतोय, 'माझे वडील पाकिस्तानचे सैनिक होते यात माझी चूक काय?'@AdnanSamiLive#AdnanSami #padmashree #PadmaAwards2020 pic.twitter.com/ZIG9V3BmP6
— BBC News Marathi (@bbcnewsmarathi) January 28, 2020
Just Jealous
Adnan Sami became an Indian citizen in 2016 and has since then he’s been trolled for going the extra mile to express his “infinite gratitude”.
Now that his citizenship is being questioned, Adnan Sami just rolled with ‘you’re just jealous’.
“I can understand your frustration. I have it (the Padma Shri). You don’t. I am the one being honored by our Government. You are not. I can understand you frustration and bitterness.”
Well sure he deserves much more… Mob Lynching perhaps!
That traitor deserves it so let him be.