Pak artistes treat India as ATM centre: Ashok Pandit

Mumbai [India], Oct. 17(ANI): Disagreeing with Priyanka Chopra's comment on the Pakistani artistes, Indian Filmmaker and Indian Motion Pictures Producers Association's (IMPPA) vice-president Ashok Pandit on Monday asserted that the Pakistani artistes have hurt the sentiments of the people by remaining silent on the ghastly Uri terror attack and that's why they don't ought to put their feet on the Indian soil. "The only request we made to Pakistani actors was that they should condemn the Uri attack and they should show some sympathy towards our soldiers and our country at large. But they remained silent. They didn't react to the ghastly attack of Pakistan in Uri. So that is what actually hurt us, that is what actually angered us and that is what actually disturbed us a lot and that's why IMPPA banned the Pakistani actors." Pandit told ANI. "The Pakistani artists have always considered this country as an ATM centre. Without identifying with our pain, they have enjoyed their lives here; they have made money and gone back to their country," he added. Asserting that nation comes first, Pandit alleged that the Pakistani artistes make money in India and pay their taxes in Pakistan where the terrorists are given shelter. "We will not allow our country to be exploited and to be used for funding terrorism because the Pakistani actors are making money here and paying taxes in Pakistan where terrorists are taken care and nurtured and we will not allow that to happen." he said. Speaking to a leading English news channel, Priyanka earlier said that she backs the government's stand being a patriotic Indian. "I am extremely patriotic. So, whatever my government decides is important to keep the country safe, I go with that", said the 34-year-old star. The 'Quantico' star, however, added that she did not believe in the artistes being a representation. "It's tricky because first of all artistes and actors are always held responsible for every bigger political agenda that happens in the country," she said. "Why not business (men), politicians, doctors and why not anyone else except for public people who are not actors in the movie industry?" she continued. The 'Quantico' star further said, "We should be concerned about keeping the rest of our sons and the rest of our soldiers safe and that needs to be the focus. We always lose our focus and comment on something else because that's what that makes noise and because people talk about it and media carries it." The Pakistani artistes working in Bollywood were the first to bear the brunt of the hostilities between India and Pakistan post the Uri terrorist attack. Following this, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) threatened the Pakistani artistes to leave the country and since then films starring actors Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan have been under the radar of release ban. (ANI)