Swara Bhaskar targets Centre over Padma Shri to Pakistani singer

Indore : Actor Swara Bhaskar slammed Centre on Sunday for awarding Padma Shri to Pakistani singer Adnan Sami who became an Indian citizen in 2016.

She also mentioned that the passage of new Citizenship Amendment Act is an addition to the betrayal of the constitution.

"The legal process to grant citizenship to refugees and arrest infiltrators already exists in India. You (the government) have granted the Indian citizenship to Adnan Sami and now selected him for Padma Shri through that process. (If this is the case) What is the need and justification for the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA)?" Bhaskar asked.

She made the remarks during a rally "Save the Constitution, Save the Country" in Indore, Madhya Pradesh.

Adnan Sami, born in London to a Pakistani Air force veteran had applied for Indian citizenship in 2015 and was granted the same in January 2016.

His name is among the 118 people who have been awarded the Padma Shri in 2020.

"On the one hand you abuse us (anti-CAA protesters), cane-charge us, slap us, hurl teargas shells at us and on the other hand you award Padma Shri to a Pakistani," she said.

"Supporters of the CAA and the NRC keep harping about the so-called infiltrators having entered our country. If that is the case then why are we unable to see these intruders?" she asked.

"Looks like the government has fallen in love with Pakistan," she added.