The Pahalgam terrorist attack occurred on April 22, when five armed militants targeted tourists in Baisaran Valley, near Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. The assailants, armed with M4 carbines and AK-47s, killed 26 civilians, making it the deadliest attack on civilians in India since the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
Many complained that many Bollywood celebrities did not speak out on the attack. As a result of this, there was a call to boycott Indian celebrities.
In the above context, a video of Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath is being widely shared on social media. In the video, he can be heard saying, “Some writers and actors have now started using anti-Indian statements. These statements are not just anti-BJP but anti-India. And people like Shah Rukh Khan have also supported these statements. This is not the first time that he has done something like this. Shah Rukh Khan should remember that if the majority population of this nation boycott his films, then he too will have to be on the road like common people. People should avoid getting haywire and prevent themselves from any international conspiracies to destroy the image of India.” (Speech translated from Hindi)
The video is shared with a caption suggesting that it is recent, and Yogi Adityanath is asking for the boycott of Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan’s film after the Pahalgam attack.
A social media user shared the video with a caption that reads, “A clear message from the honourable Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Param Pujya Mahant Yogi Adityanath ji, to not watch Shahrukh Khan’s movie. Spread this message to every home. This video is very important. Send it to any big group you are connected to and tell the youth in the family.”
SouthCheck found that the claim is misleading. The viral video is from 2015.
On a Google reverse image search, we found the same video was shared by ANI on its YouTube channel on November 4, 2015. The video was shared with a caption that reads, As the hate storm against Shah Rukh Khan showed signs of subsiding, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday stoked controversy again saying there was absolutely no difference between the thinking of 2008 Mumbai terror attacks mastermind Hafiz Saeed and Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan. Reacting to Hafiz Saeed’s invitation to Khan to come and live in Pakistan, the BJP MP said he welcomed the invite and hoped the actor would consider it. His controversial comment has been one of the many that have been directed towards Khan, who has been attacked by right-wing groups for his comments against intolerance.”
The incident was also reported by The Economic Times on November 4, 2015. The report stated that BJP MP Yogi Adityanath criticised Shah Rukh Khan’s comments on rising intolerance in India, comparing him to Pakistani terrorist Hafiz Saeed and suggesting he move to Pakistan. Adityanath warned that if the majority boycotted Khan’s films, he would be left ‘wandering the streets like a normal Muslim.’ However, the BJP officially disapproved of Adityanath’s remarks, stating they did not reflect the party’s core beliefs.
We further found that on his 50th birthday in November 2015, Shah Rukh Khan expressed concern over growing intolerance in India, labelling religious intolerance as a severe threat to patriotism and secularism. He supported those returning awards in protest, but did not return any himself. His remarks sparked political backlash, with some BJP leaders criticising him, while others and several Bollywood personalities defended his right to voice his opinion.
Yogi’s statement was an answer to SRK’s remarks.
Moreover, contrary to online claims, Shah Rukh Khan has publicly condemned the Pahalgam terror attack that occurred on April 22. In a heartfelt message shared on his social media platforms, Khan expressed profound grief and called for national unity in the face of such violence.
He wrote, “Words fail to express the sadness and anger at the treachery and inhumane act of violence that has occurred in Pahalgam. In times like these, one can only turn to God and say a prayer for the families that suffered and express my deepest condolences. May we as a Nation, stand united, strong and get justice against this heinous act.”
