India will “strongly” take up with the US the issue of detention of Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan at an American airport, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel said on Sunday, asserting that such incidents were unacceptable.
“We will take the issue with the US government strongly. Such incidents involving Indians due to their religion or nationality should not happen. We will not accept it,” Patel told reporters in Bikaner.
Khan was detained for two hours at Newark airport by immigration officials after his name matched with some names on a common checklist, sparking angry reactions in India. He was released following the intervention of Indian Consulate officials. The Bollywood actor was in the US to take part in the South Asian Carnival on the occasion of India’s Independence Day. Khan had on Saturday termed the incident as “uncalled for”.
