New Delhi, May 9: Bollywood star Akshay Kumar and his actor-turned-author wife Twinkle Khanna have been served a legal notice for auctioning the naval uniform he wore in "Rustom" because they "have played with the sentiments of armed forces personnel and widows" of fallen soldiers.
The notice has also been sent to auction house SaltScout, which has put out the naval officer uniform for online bidding. As of Wednesday afternoon, the highest bid offered for the uniform -- which includes a shirt, pants and a hat -- was Rs 235,000. The auction closes on May 26 night.
The Bollywood couple has claimed that the money raised from the auction would be used for social causes and 90 per cent of the net proceeds from it would support NGO Janice's Trust, an animal rescue service, treatment centre and shelter based in Panchgani in Maharashtra.
But the auctioning of the uniform has rubbed some serving and ex soldiers the wrong way, claiming that "by putting (it) in auction, you have shown no respect for national interest (and) have also played with the sentiments of armed forces personnel and their widows and their family members".
"As a matter of fact, till date no uniform or medal has been put for auction. The reason for the same being that an officer's uniform is bestowed as a singular honour on a commissioned officer by President of India for life. It is not a contract but entails a liability for the nation's sake and thus the array of medals and ranks, insignia are for the discerning eye of the one who proudly wears it."
The legal notice has asked Akshay and Twinkle to cancel the auction "failing which necessary action shall be taken against you under the relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code".
While there is no law that bars auction but the notice points out that after the January 2016 terror attack at the Air Force Station in Pathankot, the Indian Army issued guidelines asking civilians to avoid wearing army pattern dresses and shopkeepers not to sell combat clothes, uniforms and equipment as "it is illegal" and goes against the national interest.
The notice said Akshay and Twinkle have "shown no respect for national interest" by putting the "Rustom" uniform up for auction.
The Bollywood couple have defended the auction, saying they "are doing some work with good intention for a good cause".
"If anyone finds it wrong then it is okay. I cannot do anything on that," Akshay said, replying to a question at an event in Mumbai last week in the presence of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
The uniform Akshay wore in "Rustom" -- a 2016 period thriller set in the 1950s about Parsi Indian naval officer Rustom Pavri, who is struggling with his marriage after he discovers his wife (played by Ileana D'Cruz) has an affair with his friend, a businessman who was trying to negotiate a deal to sell a damaged aircraft carrier to the Indian Navy.
The film was based on the real life incident of Naval Officer K. M. Nanavati and businessman Prem Ahuja.
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Kushinagar (UP), May 12 (PTI): Inspired by Operation Sindoor, India's military action against Pakistan to avenge the Pahalgam terror attack last month, 17 newborn girls here have been named Sindoor by their families.
"As many as 17 newborn girls born on May 10 and 11 in Kushinagar Medical College have been named Sindoor by their family members," Principal Dr RK Shahi told PTI on Monday.
Twenty-six people, a majority of them tourists, were killed and several injured when terrorists opened fire at Baisaran meadow in the popular tourist town of Pahalgam in south Kashmir's Anantnag district on April 22.
In retaliation, Indian Army launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 to destroy nine terror infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir. All subsequent retaliations to Pakistani offensives were carried out under the moniker Operation Sindoor.
Hailing Indian armed forces for "giving a befitting reply to Pakistan", Kushinagar resident Archana Shahi said she named her newly born baby girl after the military operation.
"Following the Pahalgam attack, the lives of a number of married women were ruined when they lost their husbands. Operation Sindoor was carried out by the Indian Army in response to that. We are proud of this. Sindoor is not a word but an emotion now. So, we have decided to name our daughter Sindoor," Archana said.
Her husband Ajit Shahi echoed the sentiments. "Archana and I had thought of the name even before our daughter was born. This word is an inspiration for us," he said.
Madan Gupta from Padrauna said ever since India avenged the killing of the 26 innocent people, his daughter-in-law Kajal Gupta wanted to name her newborn Sindoor.
"That way, we will remember this operation and celebrate this day," Gupta told PTI.
Vyasmuni from Bhathahi Babu village has taken a similar decision, saying it would instil courage in his daughter.
"When my daughter grows up, she will understand the true meaning of this word and present herself as a dutiful woman for Mother India," he said.
Priyanka Devi from Padrauna has also joined others and decided to name her daughter after India's military action, the Kushinagar Medical College principal said.
On the trend of parents naming their daughters Sindoor, Pradeep Khatri, who teaches psychology at Lucknow's National PG College, told PTI, "The parents intend to instil patriotism in their children. When these girls grow up, the parents may tell them why they were named so. It will develop patriotic feelings inside these girl children."