Khans’ ordeal: One detained, another denied visa
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, August 12
Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan was detained for a third time at the Los Angeles airport on Thursday, following which the US Ambassador to India tweeted an apology while US Assistant Secretary of State, Nisha Biswal, tweeted something short of an apology.
There is still no clarity as to why he was detained or for how long by the US immigration authorities. Khan's previous detentions had led to massive uproar by his fans who had accused the US of racial profiling and of singling him out for being a Muslim.
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The Bollywood star, however, played it down and tweeted: "I fully understand and respect security with the way the world is, but to be detained at US immigration every damn time really really sucks."
The US had previously denied that Khan was detained because he was a Muslim. Apparently, someone with the same name is reportedly on a US no-fly list of 80,000.
Khan even made light of the situation by tweeting: "The brighter side is while waiting caught some really nice Pokemons."
"Sorry for the trouble at LAX @iamsrk," US ambassador to India Richard Verma tweeted today, adding that they were "working to ensure it doesn't happen again." Khan replied: "No trouble sir, respect the protocol & not expecting 2 b above it. It's just a tad inconvenient. Thx for ur concern."
As news of the superstar's detention garnered response on the Internet, Biswal tweeted: "Sorry for the hassle at the airport, @iamsrk — even American diplomats get pulled for extra screening!"
Khan has been detained twice before by the US immigration authorities. In 2009, Khan was detained for more than two hours at the Newark airport and in 2012 he was detained at the New York airport.
— Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk)Sorry for the hassle at the airport, - even American diplomats get pulled for extra screening!
— Nisha Biswal (@NishaBiswal)
Sorry for the trouble at LAX . We are working to ensure it doesn’t happen again. Your work inspires millions, including in the US.
I fully understand & respect security with the way the world is, but to be detained at US immigration every damn time really really sucks.
— Rich Verma (@USAmbIndia)
