Many of us do not or cannot vote – perhaps because we are out of town or because we are not registered to vote in our current location, because we are unwell etc. Those of us that do vote, make it a point to declare this on social media. In particular, celebrities are usually seen to share images of that inked finger to show their commitment to the democratic process and to gladden the hearts of fans. When film star Akshay Kumar didn’t vote everyone noticed. He was asked why.
A reporter asked him a question about his not having voted in the ongoing elections and Akshay Kumar, clearly annoyed, patted him on the shoulder and told him to get going without responding.
Many on Tweeple thought that this was a major embarrassment for the man who projects himself as a stout patriot; a latter day Manoj Kumar of sorts.
A lot of people were actually perplexed as to why Akshay Kumar did not vote when every other big Bollywood star did and did so proudly.
This sarcastic tweet expresses 'sympathy' for the person who claims to love the nation so much but cannot vote.
“Toronto is my home,” says the actor in this video. He goes on to say that when he retires from films he will come back ‘home’ i.e. Toronto.
According to this video of Kumar, he was granted ‘honorary citizenship’ of Canada. Be that as it may, since India does not allow dual citizenship, this meant that he had to give up his Indian citizenship. As such, Kumar is not an Indian citizen in the full sense of the term.
So did he vote? No he didn’t, as the guys at Aisi Taisi Democracy inform us tongue in cheek. The fact however is that Kumar's has an Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) which allows him to work here, but does not allow him to vote.
Sure a person can hold a foreign passport and work in India. But then they have to be prepared for some razzing as well when they make repeated lofty claims of patriotism.
To give lessons in nationalism to others via his films; while he himself has chosen to give up Indian citizenship seems a little hypocritical. At least the Tweeple thought so.
Kumar is often accused of cosying up to the powers that be; his recent ‘nonpolitical’ interview of the Prime Minister being a case in point. His ingratiating response to being tagged in a tweet was this: “The true hallmark of a democracy lies in people’s participation in the electoral process. Voting has to be a superhit prem katha between our nation and its voters :)” So what then do we make of the fact that Akshay Kumar did not vote?
Do you have something interesting you would like to share? Write to us at [email protected]
