SRK detained at US airport, India fumes
Actor Shah Rukh Khan performs with Yale University students after his public lecture on the “Chubb Fellowship” at the university
Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan was detained at a New York area airport for over two hours by US immigration officials after he arrived from India on a private jet with Nita Ambani to address students at Yale University.
While Ms Ambani, wife of Reliance chairman Mukesh Ambani, and the rest of the group were cleared immediately, Khan was stopped and got clearance only after two hours, and after the Indian consulate-general intervened, sources said.
The Indian government, reacting strongly, said the “mechanical apology” by the US government soon after the incident was not adequate, and summoned a senior American diplomat to South Block. External affairs minister S.M. Krishna said “detention and apology” had become a US habit, and could not be allowed to continue.
Indian ambassador to the US Nirupama Rao was asked to take it up with the “highest authorities” in Washington, while MEA joint secretary (Americas) Javed Ashraf summoned US deputy chief of mission Donald Lu to be told of India’s “concern”.
At New Haven, Connecticut, Khan arrived three hours late for his 2 pm press conference, and his lecture to Yale students began at 6 pm, an hour late. “Whenever I start feeling too arrogant about myself, I always take a trip to America. The immigration guys kicked the star out of stardom,” the actor said sarcastically, referring to the White Plains airport incident.
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