Sidhu sacked from 'The Kapil Sharma Show' over remarks about Kashmir attack
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NEW DELHI: The producers of a well-known television show have decided to sack former Indian cricketer and Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu over the “pro-Pakistan remarks” he gave in the aftermath of a deadly attack on paramilitary soldiers in India-held Kashmir.
Mr Sidhu received a lot of flak over the remarks and different social media platforms demanded his removal from the comedy show.
During his media interaction after the suicide attack in Pulwama, Mr Sidhu had stated: “For a handful of people, can you blame the entire nation and can you blame an individual? It [the attack] is a cowardly act and I condemn it firmly.
“Violence is always condemnable and those who did it must be punished.”
The statement did not go down well with many who took to Twitter and demanded his immediate ouster from the show.
Twitterati reacted strongly and posted tweets such as “we should all boycott Kapil Sharma’s show till Sidhu is removed”, “Kapil Sharma, remove Sidhu from your show or we will boycott The Kapil Sharma Show”. Sources close to the show informed the Times of India that the channel had a discussion and together they decided to sack Mr Sidhu from the show.
Popular actress Archana Puran Singh has been roped in and will replace him. The actress has already shot two episodes and the channel has decided to use them.
The attack took place on Thursday. Forty-four paramilitary personnel were killed and five injured in one of the deadliest attacks in the disputed Himalayan region, when a suicide bomber rammed a vehicle carrying over 100kg of explosives into their bus in Pulwama district.
By arrangement with the Times of India
Published in Dawn, February 17th, 2019
Read more
On DawnNews
Comments (136) Closed
Feb 17, 2019 12:18pm
People with balance view are not acceptable in India.
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Feb 17, 2019 12:18pm
What else can one expect. Sidhu seems a decent guy in an indecent time in India.
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Feb 17, 2019 12:29pm
From Feb 1st India has a new tv channel policy. Pay only for the channel you want to view. No channel will risk having siddhu.
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Feb 17, 2019 12:41pm
Sidhu is correct. Don’t tar all Pakistanis with the same brush just because some of us are bad
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Feb 17, 2019 12:43pm
very good move.
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Feb 17, 2019 12:43pm
Good job done
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Feb 17, 2019 01:00pm
That was his only source of a good income.
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Feb 17, 2019 01:15pm
Wtth love
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Feb 17, 2019 01:22pm
@Newborn, Entire life income can be sacrificed for just one truth.
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Feb 17, 2019 01:24pm
Why Indians have to stoop low each and every time...it is obvious.
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Feb 17, 2019 01:25pm
Sometimes it is best to keep quiet and not get involved in controversies. Applies to nations as well.
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Feb 17, 2019 01:29pm
Its sad to see sane voices being silenced!
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Feb 17, 2019 01:32pm
Says more about the producers of the show than anything else
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Feb 17, 2019 01:44pm
Sidhu sacked for speaking logic! Strange World,Strange Media
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Feb 17, 2019 01:51pm
truth always hurts
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Feb 17, 2019 01:53pm
@Reynolds, what will producers do if people don't want to watch him.
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Feb 17, 2019 01:54pm
Intolerance in India at it’s peak
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Feb 17, 2019 01:56pm
Shame on Indian media. They are fill of poison and hatred. There is no freedom to speak in India. Religious barbarians running the country. Today’s India is very dangerous tomorrow’s future. Sikhs, dalits and Muslim must join for freedom. It can not go on like this.
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Feb 17, 2019 02:02pm
In the eyes of BJP government, Sidhu's crime is to lead the pressure of Sikh community to open up Kartarpur border with Pakistan so that Sikh community may visit their sacred place in Pakistan.
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Feb 17, 2019 02:07pm
Sidhu is sensible leader. If all leaders are like him then south asia will be at peace and prosper.
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Feb 17, 2019 02:12pm
Voice of logic and sanity are being silenced...india has become a fascist state
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Feb 17, 2019 02:15pm
IQ of this guy is very very low. His statements show how immature he is as a politician :D:D
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Feb 17, 2019 02:15pm
India is insane.
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Feb 17, 2019 02:23pm
Indian "Democracy" allows only one official version to be parrot by all, or else you are anti national. This ensures a perpetual regional conflict. Both countries have to talk, talk and talk to adress issues.
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Feb 17, 2019 02:30pm
Good move by channel. Now siddu can concentrate on his job
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Feb 17, 2019 02:32pm
Salute to Sidhu who is telling truth to the Indians despite all odds.
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Feb 17, 2019 02:51pm
Minorities in India are treated as second/third class citizens under BJP/MODI government
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Feb 17, 2019 02:54pm
Sidhu has earned a lot of respect from sikhs all over the world and the whole Nation of Pakistan. He will be soon PM of KHALISTAN. InshaAllah
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Feb 17, 2019 02:58pm
A traitor
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Feb 17, 2019 03:09pm
This guy was insane. No point in paying Sony to watch the insane man
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Feb 17, 2019 03:11pm
There you go! In India things appear to be different. 90% of Indians are extremists 10% normal.
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Feb 17, 2019 03:15pm
The poison Indian Government and Media is feeding its public is eventually going to hurt their own people
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Feb 17, 2019 03:25pm
Decision shows the absurdity of minds on other side of border.
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Feb 17, 2019 03:25pm
Some news TV channels and anchors in India feed on the poor relations with Pakistan and seem to feel that the more hostile they pose toward Pakistan the more popular they will become amongst the viewers in India.
And, most of the youth in India (and Pakistan!) are an easy target of the propaganda of their own government and the (virtually state-controlled) media.
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Feb 17, 2019 03:31pm
Indian public has been highly radicalised by their own government and media.
Here we have Indians doing HR abuses against the Kashmiris and a local Kashmiri decide to revenge obtaining local meterials - and everything is blamed on Pakistan. What great logic!
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Feb 17, 2019 03:31pm
Sidhu is 100℅ right.
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Feb 17, 2019 03:32pm
You guys can take him.We don't want such people here.
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Feb 17, 2019 03:40pm
Many indians commenting here seems to be paid commentators
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Feb 17, 2019 03:50pm
Seems sidh is only indian who have some good sense.
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Feb 17, 2019 03:59pm
I feel for Sidhu - he is made to feel alienated in his own home..
It’s better he lays low and doesn’t get involved in these matters otherwise his will land himself in more problems
One does wonder though - if he was living in Khalistan would he still have the same issue?
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Feb 17, 2019 04:03pm
India Pakistan friendship is a way forward for progress, and some don't like it to materialize
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Feb 17, 2019 04:21pm
Truth is always bitter and Mr Sidhu said nothing but truth.
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Feb 17, 2019 04:22pm
Ladies and gentelemen, the intolerant India.
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Feb 17, 2019 04:28pm
Here goes the so called biggest democracy in the world out of the window!
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Feb 17, 2019 04:28pm
Poor Sidhu, spoke some sense and got punished for it. He should have been smart like Javed Akhtar and Shabana Azmi and just sided with the national sentiment. This is the new democracy, believe what the government says or else...
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Feb 17, 2019 04:37pm
Another horrible face of so called shining democratic India...............
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Feb 17, 2019 04:37pm
He loves both nations
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Feb 17, 2019 04:39pm
Best news ever.
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Feb 17, 2019 04:47pm
Modi has changed the political landscape of India the country has become more intolerant and bigoted than ever. Bad days for India to come.
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Feb 17, 2019 05:18pm
The Punjab Minister Mr.Navjot Singh Sidhu is only being punished because he is a Sikh.
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Feb 17, 2019 05:25pm
Silly Indians.
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Feb 17, 2019 05:27pm
Freedom of speech doesn't exist in India
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Feb 17, 2019 05:32pm
India has gone mad
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Feb 17, 2019 05:49pm
India should understand people of Pakistan like to live in peace and such incidents have happened in Pakistan at large in the past. Pakistan have overcome such incidents by imposing strict actions to curb terrorists. Why India does not check her own security agencies to control such incidents.
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Feb 17, 2019 05:51pm
Secular India. huh.
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Feb 17, 2019 05:53pm
Indians are very broad minded.
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Feb 17, 2019 05:58pm
India - the largest democracy of the world and a believer of freedom of speech. What a joke!!!
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Feb 17, 2019 06:07pm
He is right but when the nation is in anger then you need to wait for some time for your rational statements.
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Feb 17, 2019 06:33pm
Intolerant indians
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Feb 17, 2019 06:33pm
Sidhu speaks the truth and they don’t want to hear it. Peace is the way forward. Former Colonial masters and their left over puppets will always create traps and incidents to ignite unrest and make their divide and rule policy successful.
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Feb 17, 2019 06:45pm
Indians have been radicalised by their own media and government which win elections on anti-Pakistan platform.
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Feb 17, 2019 06:47pm
Shame on India . Sidhu is a brave man standing against blood thirsty Modi.
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Feb 17, 2019 06:49pm
India at it's worst
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Feb 17, 2019 06:51pm
Really immature move. It is a nice election stunt from the modi govt to try to put pressure on Pakistan by crying in the media over an attack that was done locally
The explosives were local as well as confirmed by an Indian military commander. What a shame.
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Feb 17, 2019 07:04pm
“Violence is always condemnable and those who did it must be punished." - Indian press ignored this part of Sidhu 's statement.
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Feb 17, 2019 07:18pm
Mockery of democracy in the biggest false, fake and fraud democracy of the world, called Republic of India.
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Feb 17, 2019 07:20pm
Pakistanis should stop watching The Kapil Sharma Show.
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Feb 17, 2019 07:41pm
The man makes a true statement and the worlds largest democracy does not like it. Proud of you Sidhu.
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Feb 17, 2019 07:42pm
Shame on india.
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Feb 17, 2019 07:42pm
Intolerant india
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Feb 17, 2019 07:50pm
He is sikh enough said.
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Feb 17, 2019 08:44pm
India professes as the largest democracy but has yet to learn how to act as a democracy. Knee jerk reactions are counter to democratic norms.
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Feb 17, 2019 08:55pm
Mr. Sidhu is excellent politician , ,and intelligent person ,dont worry Sidhu Paaji
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Feb 17, 2019 09:02pm
Petty India, nothing new :)
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Feb 17, 2019 09:03pm
@Faisal, who is sidh..please get name right.
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Feb 17, 2019 09:17pm
Sidhu is a thorough gentleman. Indians are not fond of listening the truth or real facts.
Indian themselves used to to do this type of adventures so as to blame us.They must get invitation investigation Done by third party. India is doing all what they can to blame us.
Majority of indians they want good terms but modi and his associates don't want.
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Feb 17, 2019 09:27pm
If you don't talk against Pakistan then you are anti-India, that is the environment in India. The situation is unfortunate and illogical. Lets hope rationality will prevail there some day.
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Feb 17, 2019 09:29pm
@Kishore, your comments reflect India is totally illiterate..
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Feb 17, 2019 09:32pm
I salute the amazing courage of a man who ‘Speaks Truth To Power’
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Feb 17, 2019 10:14pm
The people with brains will support what Sidhu said.
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Feb 17, 2019 10:31pm
One wonders who will benefit from this attack at this time?
Time when kashmir voice is most favorably heard on international level including England , while Modi favorable ratings were down while elections are coming. seems very predictable.
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Feb 17, 2019 10:40pm
I think, Sidhu said what any person with an open mind who wants peace between the two neighbours would say. He speaks his mind and is a genuine person.
Unfortunately, the comments have been given a political twist and the television company made a business decision. Unnecessary hostility by some Indians led to his sacking. As a Pakistani, I do feel for Sidhu.
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Feb 17, 2019 10:47pm
Unfortunate event.
Indians have to step back. Think clearly.
Suppressing the only sane voice is not going to help.
Wake up India.
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Feb 17, 2019 11:37pm
Sidhu Paji, there is a Punjab in Pakistan too and you are always welcome here. Jo bole so Nihal!!!
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Feb 18, 2019 12:40am
We know Kashmirs have no place in India.
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Feb 18, 2019 12:59am
Don't worry Sidhu, you can come to Pakistan for good, with your entire family. We love to have you here. Aqil Siddiqi ( Canada )
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Feb 18, 2019 01:10am
We love you Sidhu .. stay the course!
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Feb 18, 2019 01:45am
Indians have so much hatred against Pakistan that anything pro pakistani is banned even if that is the truth.
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Feb 18, 2019 02:20am
Well done sidhu..keep speaking the truth. You are a hero. India going to its lowest level.
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Feb 18, 2019 02:37am
Times are a changing. Pakistan is moving away from the dark ages. India seems to be embracing them. Classic mob mindset.
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Feb 18, 2019 03:40am
I boycott Kapil Sharma show for being so discriminatory
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Feb 18, 2019 03:54am
I think the Indian PJP party did it like the did with Bombay train to gain sympathy to reelect
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Feb 18, 2019 04:20am
Exposes India's so called freedom of thought and speech.
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Feb 18, 2019 04:23am
india is not a democracy...its a fascist state where minorities are always targetted..sikhs, muslims, Christians.
mood'es bjp will be exposed soon and indians themselves will kick him out
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Feb 18, 2019 04:34am
Sidhu, you are a living legend and hero to all the peace loving folks.
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Feb 18, 2019 05:07am
Very free freedom of speech, must be very proud of the tolerant approach adopted by forward thinking minds in India
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Feb 18, 2019 05:15am
Innocent till proven guilty
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Feb 18, 2019 05:38am
Shining India :-)
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Feb 18, 2019 05:53am
Cowardly act is:
killing unarmed people with high powered rifles, sitting inside armored vehicles and protected by hundreds of other armored vehicles and covered by helicopters and fighters planes.
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Feb 18, 2019 05:53am
The people in India should elect Sidhu as their next Prime Minister, too bad he is not running for PM position.
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Feb 18, 2019 05:54am
Apportunist....
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Feb 18, 2019 05:57am
Decent and balance people are not welcome in India while Modi is PM
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Feb 18, 2019 06:00am
One thing I must say, there aren't many people as brave as him in India. Just like Imran Khan was when TLP tried to challenge the government. That is what brings these two together.
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Feb 18, 2019 06:27am
How unfortunate. Is India still the Democracy it used to be ? any room left for dissent ?
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Feb 18, 2019 07:21am
Sidhu is a legend.
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Feb 18, 2019 08:11am
@anwar imdad, 100% agre
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Feb 18, 2019 08:12am
@Ahmed khan lehri, our wish
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Feb 18, 2019 08:14am
@Jersey Guy, because he say truth
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Feb 18, 2019 08:19am
@Amir, yes
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Feb 18, 2019 08:32am
Indians making comments without any evidence that Pakistan has anything to do with facilitating the bombing. While your own military commander said it is homegrown terrorist attack with locally acquired material.
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Feb 18, 2019 02:55pm
No one cares for these calls of boycott and trust me TRP ratings would not have fallen. But as we have seen in Padmavati controversy and many other instances that a handful of people can become a law unto themselves and many times the govt instead of supporting individual rights . Sidhu has a right to express his opinion just as much as I have the right to disagree with him
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Feb 18, 2019 03:11pm
You have to respect sentiments of a situation, Sidhu cant bring his agenda when there is national tragedy!
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Feb 18, 2019 03:35pm
@Changez Khan, In the next election, he may not even get his security deposit!
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Feb 18, 2019 03:38pm
For the elections in India, Pakistan is always a good target to talk about.
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Feb 18, 2019 05:54pm
@Anas, you clearly don’t understand the meaning of freedom of speech - I suggest you look that up first ..
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Feb 18, 2019 05:55pm
He speaks the truth .
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Feb 18, 2019 06:01pm
@Shujaat Khan, he is not our commander - he is an ex officer ... his words carry no weight as he will have access to no current information or intelligence ..
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Feb 18, 2019 07:30pm
@Chinpaksaddique, Sensible acknowledgement. Thanks
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Feb 18, 2019 08:08pm
This is the power of the people of India. If you need to blame anyone, then collective blame the people of India for having been responsible for getting Siddhu off the show. If people do not wish to see him, the producers of the show will only do what the people want.
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Feb 18, 2019 08:24pm
Just like democracy majority win wheather they are wrong, Mr. Sidhu is a victim of insane majority.
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Feb 18, 2019 08:52pm
We have freedom of speech. That is how this coward is able to make statements that he is making. Very good. He should now go home and cool his heels.
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Feb 18, 2019 09:21pm
Pakistan should invite respected Navjot Siddhu to accept citizenship of Pakistan.
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Feb 18, 2019 09:53pm
@Nithin, “IQ of this guy is very low”. Hey Nothin, truth has no IQ! If you are serious about peace, you need to think more like Sidhu. However, what can I say about you guys after what you did to Gandhi Jee, the most ardent advocate of reconciliation and peace.
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Feb 18, 2019 11:04pm
By listening to Indian news channels and talk shows including the public reaction to the Kashmir incident , one is shocked to notice how radicalized and divided the Indian society really is with high degree of visible extremism to its own detriment. Hate groups are being encouraged by no less than the visionless prime minister and his ruling party which if continues will be the cause of India’s disintegration
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Feb 18, 2019 11:09pm
@Touka, “Sidhu can’t bring his agenda when there is a national tragedy”. Are there times when the agenda of reconciliation and peace is out of place?
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Feb 19, 2019 12:23am
Shame on Indian leadership abusing feeling of indians with their warmongering retric.
Sacking on Sidhu may bring a speedy end to capil's show.
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Feb 19, 2019 12:24am
It's sad that some people (not all) find his remarks objectionable. I thought there was freedom of press in India. I hope people who favor freedom of press will comment, either for Mr Sidhu or against. It's important that they express their views.
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Feb 19, 2019 02:37am
@Kishore,
Mr. Kishore,
Today against the Sikhs.
Tomorrow against the Christians, Muslims and Dalit-Scheduled Caste.
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Feb 19, 2019 02:38am
@Saif Zulfiqar,
Mr. Saif Zulfiqar,
No.
But since the partition.
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Feb 19, 2019 02:43am
@Raja ,
Mr. Raja,
Who is opportunist?
Do you mean Mr. Narendra Modi and his associates?
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Feb 19, 2019 03:22am
Mr. Siidhu condemed the attack but any sensible person will not condemn the whole country. The Indians who have asked Mr Sidhu be removed from the show probabably have lost any sense of porportion, any society has good and bad people the act itself is deplorable but it also highlights the frustration of the subjugated people.
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Feb 19, 2019 07:54am
@Pakistani , thanks for your advice. How about running your own country properly first?
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Feb 19, 2019 08:17am
Shining India :-)
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Feb 19, 2019 08:26am
Sidhu is right. Terrorism cannot be won by anger or military force. We need a Gandhi or a Frontier Gandhi to go from village to village to bring sanity to the areas affected by violence and by its perpetrators.
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Feb 19, 2019 10:58am
@Bongo, I like your sense of humour.
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Feb 20, 2019 01:22pm
Siddhu is opportunists and every one hates him.
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