Sidhu ‘sacked’ from Kapil Sharma show over Pulwama attack remarks: Reports

Tribune Web Desk
Chandigarh, February 16

Navjot Singh Sidhu has been asked to leave The Kapil Sharma show for his remarks after the Pulwama attack, media reported on Saturday.

Actress Archana Puran Singh will reportedly replace Sidhu.

The minister could not reached for his comment. Bollywood actor Salman Khan, the show's producer, is reportedly behind the decision to let Sidhu go. 

When she was contacted, the actress told The Tribune: I shot 2 episodes with Kapil as a guest judge on the 9th and 13th of Feb. After that I have had no communication from the team to do anymore episodes”.

Sidhu said on Friday—a day after a dastardly suicide attack in Pulwama—that nations could not be blamed for a handful of people. Sidhu said, “There are good, bad and ugly people in our lives. Every place, institution and nation has them. The ugly needs to be punished, but individuals cannot be blamed for a dastardly act.” He said: “Nations cannot be blamed just for a handful of people. These people have no country, no religion. They act as deterrents in peace process. We need to deal with them strictly”.

His statement has drawn widespread condemnation. Several people took to Twitter to demand that The Kapil Show—on which Sidhu has been a staple for several years now—should sack him for his remarks.

Hashtags like #BoycottSidhu #BoycottKapilSharmaShow and #BoycottSonyTV have been trending on Twitter. 

'Ban'

The Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) has called for ban on Sidhu over his controversial comments.

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.