Raj Thackeray said Salman Khan's support of Pakistani artistes in light of the Uri attacks, was misguided

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray spoke out against Bollywood actor Salman Khan's support of Pakistani artistes, on Friday evening.

At an event on Friday, 30 September, Salman was asked for his opinion on the boycott of Pakistani artistes in India.

Khan had replied that artistes could not be equated with terrorists.

Salman had further added that the "ideal situation would have been peace [between the two countries]" but since there had been an attack on India, there "would be some reaction". He also pointed out that there was a difference between artistes who had gained appropriate visas and permission from the government to work in India, and the terrorists who perpetrated the Uri attacks that left 18 of our military personnel dead.

While Salman's statements garnered both support and criticism in equal measure on social media, MNS chief Raj Thackeray was vocal in what he thought of the superstar's comments.

In an interview with Times Now, Thackeray said:

"What we need to understand is that the soldiers who die defending our borders, it's not that they have some personal enmity with Pakistan. And the bullets that hit them aren't 'filmi' bullets. They're real, unlike the ones Salman faces in his movies."

He added that the question of art and artistes not being constrained by borders did not arise.

"Artistes don't drop from the sky," Thackeray told Times Now. "Even I'm an artiste."

The MNS has been among the most strident voices demanding the ouster of all Pakistani artistes from India. This week, they issued a diktat that all artistes from across the border should leave Indian soil within 48 hours, "or else face the consequences". The MNS also held protests outside the office of filmmaker karan Johar in Mumbai, asking that fawad Khan be removed from Johar's upcoming film Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. A similar demand was made concerning Mahira Khan's removal from Raees.

Thackeray said of the MNS' eviction threats: "The ones who were asked to leave in 48 hours, they were first asked if they would condemn [the Uri attacks]. It was only when they refused that they were asked to leave."

"What if the soldiers at the borders tomorrow decide to lay down their arms and say they want to attend a Ghulam Ali concert. Are the soldiers our servants?" Thackeray asked.

"I am told many times, that Pakistanis are nice people. What difference does that make? The only ones who come before us are the terrorists."

"In a country of a billion, are you saying that there is no talent in India that can be promoted, that we have to borrow their artistes?" Thackeray concluded.