A local outfit in Odisha has threatened to throw ink on the face of Bollywood Badshah Shah Rukh Khan during his visit to Bhubaneshwar for the inauguration of the 2018 Men's Hockey World Cup on the invitation of CM Naveen Patnaik. Kalinga Sena is offended by the depiction of the ruthless battle of Kalinga in his 2001 film, Asoka. It is this war that goaded King Ashoka into taking up Buddhism.
The outfit has reportedly filed a complaint against Khan for hurting the sentiments of the Odia populace. There were protests against the film when it was released seventeen years ago in the state, where it could not run beyond seven days.
“We have made preparation to throw ink on the actor’s face and show him black flag at any place from the airport to the stadium. Our activists will remain present all along the road where Khan is likely to visit,” reads the press statement by Kalinga Sena general secretary Nihar Pani.
Hemant Rath, the chief of the outfit which calls itself 'Kalinga Sena', has demanded an apology from Khan for allegedly insulting Odisha and its people in his film Asoka that was made 17 years ago.
On 11 November the star’s effigy was exhumed in the state. A senior police officer assured that adequate security arrangements will be made for all the visiting VVIPs including Khan.
(With inputs from PTI)
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