A local group of Odisha, Kalinga Sena threatened to throw ink at Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan and show him the black flag when he visits the city next week during the 2018 Men’s Hockey World Cup. The chief of the Kalinga Sena Hemant Rath has demanded an apology from the actor as he accused him of insulting Odisha and its people in his film ‘Ashoka’ that was made 17 years ago in 2001.
In the report filed by the group, Shah Rukh is alleged to hurt the sentiments of Odia people and dishonoured the state’s culture by portraying the Kalinga war in a wrong manner. Kalinga is a historical name of Odisha, the famous Kalinga War was fought in 265 BC in which Emperor Ashoka defeated the Kalinga king. The war is considered one of the bloodiest battles and had prompted Ashoka to embrace Buddhism to find peace and solace.
The general secretary of Kalinga Sena stated that,
“We have made preparation to throw ink on the actor’s face and show him black flag at any place from the airport to the stadium. Our activists will remain present all along the road where Khan is likely to visit.”