Art, sports should be kept above political conflicts: Yechury

Kolkata, October 1

Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Sitaram Yechury on Saturday said India should keep art and sports outside political conflicts.

“We want sports and arts outside political conflicts. This is what it should ideally be but when passion aroused then such things will happen. This is unfortunate thing, but I think we should rise above and treat art and sports as what they are,” he said.

“If there is any specific information about any artiste or sportsman is trying to do something against our country, it is a different matter of course; the matter has to be acted upon. Otherwise, arts and sports should to be kept above,” he added.

Last week, Raj Thackeray-led MNS issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Pakistani artistes and actors, following which Fawad Khan left India on September 27.

Maharashtra Navnirman Chitrapat Karmachari Sena, the film wing of the Raj Thackeray-led MNS, made it clear that they will stall the release of every film that has Pakistani actors in it.

At a press conference yesterday, superstar Salman Khan spoke about maintaining peaceful relations between India and Pakistan. Salman said that the action taken towards terrorists is justified, however, Pakistani artists are not terrorists. “They (Pakistani actors) are artists, not terrorists. It’s the government who gives them permits and visas,” said Salman Khan. — ANI