A fresh political controversy has erupted in India after a senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader launched a verbal attack on Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan over his IPL team’s recent player decision.
The remarks came after Kolkata Knight Riders, a franchise owned by Shah Rukh Khan, signed Bangladeshi fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman for the upcoming IPL season. BJP’s hardline leader Sangeet Som accused the actor of acting against national sentiment by backing a foreign player at a time of regional tensions.
Addressing a public gathering in Meerut, the former Uttar Pradesh legislator claimed that hiring a Bangladeshi cricketer amounted to a betrayal of the country. He linked the issue to reports of violence against minorities in Bangladesh and questioned the morality of spending large sums on players from the neighbouring nation.
Sangeet Som further alleged that the cricketer was bought for several crores during the IPL auction, calling the move unacceptable. His speech included strong rhetoric suggesting that people making such decisions should be held accountable for hurting public emotions.
The statement quickly gained traction on social media, triggering heated debate. While critics condemned the remarks as extreme and unnecessary politicisation of sport, others defended the actor’s right to conduct business within league rules. Neither Shah Rukh Khan nor the IPL franchise has issued an official response so far.
