Navjot Singh Sidhu sacked from The Kapil Sharma Show after comments on Pulwama attack
Mumbai, Feb 16: The Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) has called for ban on cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu over his controversial comments in the wake of the Pulwama terror attack.
Sidhu, who appears on "The Kapil Sharma Show", had condemned the incident but courted a controversy when he asked whether an entire nation can be blamed for a handful of people.
He was among the invitees for the swearing-in ceremony of Imran Khan as Pakistan prime minister last year.
The Punjab cabinet minister's comments sparked an uproar on social media, with many people asking for his removal from "The Kapil Sharma Show".
In a statement sent to Sony Entertainment Television on Saturday, FWICE said Sidhu should apologise for his comments that have "not only disturbed the sentiments of the nation, but also have been taken as of an anti-Indian nature".
"In social and national interest, on behalf of five lakh workers of the FWICE, we request you to kindly ban him from 'The Kapil Sharma Show' until he submits his unconditional apology to the nation and martyrs, who sacrificed their lives while on duty for the nation," the statement said.
"We look forward to your understanding and support for the same. We would also like to inform you further that until he apologies personally, none of our members shall be working on the sets of your shows and that the production house and your channel shall be sole responsible for the entire cost and consequences due to this non co-operation by our members," it added.
There have been reports of Sidhu being sacked by the channel from "The Kapil Sharma Show", but there is no official confirmation.
The reports claimed that actor Archana Puran Singh, who has been a judge on few comedy shows, has replaced Sidhu.
The actor, however, has rubbished the reports.
"No one has offered me the show saying I would be replacing Mr Sidhu. There is no truth of me replacing him. I have not got any call from the channel and the team. No one has contacted me yet," Singh told PTI.
"I did shoot for the show on February 9 and 13, but that's it," she added.
Forty CRPF personnel were killed and five injured on Thursday in one of the deadliest terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir when a Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad suicide bomber rammed a vehicle carrying over 100 kg of explosives into their bus in Pulwama district.
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Wayanad disaster relief: Kerala govt asserting its right, not seeking charity, says minister
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): Kerala Revenue Minister K Rajan on Friday came down heavily on the Centre for withholding relief funds for the Wayanad landslide survivors and said that the state is asserting its right and not seeking charity.
The government has requested the Centre to declare the landslide that hit the Chooralmala and Mundakai regions in Wayanad a national disaster. However, they have not taken any action on listing the disaster in the category as per the NDRF norms and "intentionally neglecting the state," he said.
The minister accused the union government of deliberately delaying disaster relief to Kerala, describing it as a challenge to the state.
He pointed out that the Centre had failed to provide a clear response to Kerala’s requests for assistance.
Rajan also dismissed the union government's claim that funds are available in the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), calling it misleading.
He said that the state would not accept the Centre’s stance and would continue to fight for Kerala’s rightful claims.
Meanwhile, the Kerala High Court will consider the case related to the Wayanad tragedy on Friday.
"The suo moto case registered by the High Court will come up before the court on Friday and we are looking for the stand of the union government in this regard," the minister said.
The disaster, which struck on July 30, devastated large parts of three villages --Punchirimattam, Chooralmala, and Mundakkai--along with sections of Attamala in Wayanad.
As per the government, the deadly disaster claimed 231 lives, while 47 people are still missing.
