Pranab defends SRK

Kolkata, 8 Feb: Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee today came in defence of actor Shah Rukh Khan, in the news for his comments on Pakistani players' participation in the IPL matches, saying freedom of speech and expression is a fundamental right and nobody can deny it.

"Freedom of speech and expression in any form is a fundamental right. India is a country where fundamental right is guaranteed by the Constitution. Nobody can tamper with it," Mukherjee told reporters when asked about Shiv Sena's threat to the film actor.

The controversy began when Shah Rukh, who owns the Kolkata Knight Riders team in the IPL, questioned the absence of Pakistani players in the third season of the hugely popular T20 cricket version.

The Shiv Sena was quick to react, with its chief Bal Thackeray saying, "A Khan named Shah Rukh tells us to love Pakistan but nobody feels suffocated due to his treachery."


(PTI)