USINPAC calls Shahrukh Khan incident a teaching moment

WASHINGTON - The US India Political Action Committee (USINPAC) has termed the questioning and checking of Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan at the Newark International Airport in New Jersey as a teaching moment, and while lauding immigration officials for their professionalism, has demanded fair treatment to all tourists and visitors.

USINPAC chairman Sanjay Puri said: “We commend the Department of Homeland Security for protecting our homeland. United States has not suffered a single terror attack after 9/11, and that is a testament to their efforts. But fair treatment for tourists and visitors based on their race, religion or national origin and protecting our homeland are not mutually exclusive and in fact are part of the ethos of what makes the United States a magnet for people seeking freedom and opportunity. President Obama in Cairo talked about a new beginning with Muslims around the world. One of the quickest paths towards that goal is fair treatment for visitors to the United States of different religious faiths.”

USINPAC National Security Coordinator, Manish Thakur added: “These kinds of incidents heighten the need for racial sensitivity. The reaction in India should be seen in the same light as the outcry in this country after the arrest of prominent African American Harvard scholar, Henry Louis Gates at his home.

President Obama called that a teaching moment for the country on race relations and maybe this can turn into a teaching moment as it relates to fair treatment of visitors to the United States.”

USINPAC is the political voice of 2.7 million Indian-Americans and provides bipartisan support to candidates for federal, state and local office who support the issues that are important to the Indian-American community. (ANI)