New Delhi:
After popular Bangladeshi actor Ferdous Ahmed was ordered to leave the country and his business visa was cancelled for allegedly campaigning for West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress, another Bangladesh actor Gazi Abdun Noor, of the Rani Rashmoni fame, was on Tuesday seen campaigning for the party in the state.
In a video, Noor can be seen campaigning for the Trinamool Congress and senior leader and sitting MP Sougata Roy in the Dumdum constituency. He also took part in a road show accompanied by Trinamool leader Madan Mitra.
Expressing serious concern over foreign nationals campaigning during Indian elections that might influence voters, BJP leader Rahul Sinha said that these actors are coming to India on either tourist or business visa but are indulging in political activities and that is wrong.
TMC leader and Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim said that BJP is deliberately raising this issue because they are sure of their defeat in the state as reported by Zee Media.
A video showing Ahmed and Bengali actors Ankush and Payal participating in a roadshow on Sunday to seek votes for Trinamool candidate from Raiganj Kanhaiyalal Agarwal went viral on social media. "All should vote for the Trinamool Congress. All should vote for didi (TMC chief Mamata Banerjee)," Ahmed was claimed to have told voters while sharing the dais with Agarwal.
West Bengal BJP leaders Jay Prakash Majumdar and Sisir Bajoria on Tuesday met Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Ariz Aftab in Kolkata and demanded that Ferdous should be arrested. "We understand that foreign nationals can't participate in electioneering process in India. When TMC is using Bangladeshi nationals (actor Ferdous) for campaigning, they are breaking the rules. He should be arrested for breach of visa rules," Majumdar said.
The Centre Tuesday issued a 'Leave India' notice and cancelled the business visa given to the actor. Ahmed has also been "blacklisted" by the Union Home Ministry, thus jeopardising the prospects of his future travel to India.
