Adnan Sami's staff allegedly called "Indian dogs" at Kuwait Airport
What's the story
Whether it is Shah Rukh Khan, APJ Abdul Kalam, Sudha Murthy or Adnan Sami, racism against Indians apparently exists globally. Adnan Sami, the latest victim, recently visited Kuwait to perform live. But the experience turned sour when his crew was allegedly mistreated at the Kuwait Airport immigration, where officials called them "Indian dogs." Like always, Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj was quick to take cognizance.
What happened
Sami alleges the Indian Embassy didn't do anything to help
Though not many details are known, Sami tagged the Indian Embassy in Kuwait, saying he was visiting "with love and our Indian brethren embraced us with it." "You gave no support. Kuwaiti airport immigration mistreated my staff for no reason and called them 'Indian dogs'! When you were contacted, you did nothing! How dare the Kuwaitis behave like this with arrogance," he tweeted.
Twitter Post
'How dare Kuwaitis behave like this with arrogance?'
@indembkwt We came 2 ur city wt luv our Indian brethren embraced us with it. U gave no support. Kuwaiti airport immigration mistreated my staff 4 no reason called thm ‘Indian Dogs’! Wn u wr contacted u did nothing!! How dare d Kuwaitis behave like this with arrogance?! pic.twitter.com/9OPfuPiTW1
— Adnan Sami (@AdnanSamiLive) May 6, 2018
Reax
Swaraj took cognizance, is working on the matter, officials say
The singer later reached out to Swaraj and Home Minister Rajnath Singh. Swaraj responded swiftly, asking him to "please speak to me on phone." Later, MoS Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju contacted Sami, assuring him the "most dynamic" Swaraj was looking into it. "Thank you so much for your concern my dear," Sami replied. "I'm so proud that she...looks after us all over the world."
Other celebs
Sami isn't the first, nor will he be the last
Despite their accomplishments and fame, Indians have often been exposed to such ill-treatment abroad. Shah Rukh Khan has been stopped so many times at US airports, he once joked about losing all arrogance whenever he takes a trip to America. In 2011, Kalam was frisked on board an aircraft and his jacket and shoes were briefly taken away; Washington later apologized.
Sudha Murthy
When Sudha Murthy defined 'class' to a woman in London
Sudha Murthy, Infosys Foundation chairperson, had a slightly different experience: she was called "cattle-class person" by another woman at the International Heathrow airport, who also asked the salwar kameez-wearing Murthy to "go stand in the economy-class queue." But Murthy had the last word: "You may be rich enough to buy luxuries, but it doesn't define class or give you the ability to purchase it," she told her.