Somaiya questions Imran Khan's citizenship after Mumbai protest, files police complaint

BJP leader Kirit Somaiya on Monday questioned actor Imran Khan's citizenship after he participated in a protest in Mumbai in support of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), alleging that the agitation against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls was aimed at creating disorder.

Somaiya said he had lodged a complaint at Gamdevi police station and claimed that police officials had assured him they would summon the actor to produce documents establishing his citizenship.

"I have demanded that Imran Khan be summoned immediately. The police have assured me they will summon him and seek his (citizenship) documents," the former MP told reporters after meeting senior police officials.

Somaiya alleged that the actor had falsely claimed to be an Indian citizen from Mumbai and questioned his participation in the protest.

"Why was Imran Khan there? Was he there to instigate that SIR is an anti-Muslim narrative?" he asked.

The BJP leader accused activists and public figures of being part of what he described as a "well-planned conspiracy" to create confusion and anarchy by opposing the electoral roll revision.

He cited the participation of figures including Javed Akhtar and Naseeruddin Shah and questioned the source of funding for the demonstrations.

Referring to the Malabar Hill Assembly constituency, Somaiya claimed that 40 per cent of the total voters' names had been deleted under the SIR, despite the area having a relatively small Muslim population.

He also alleged that some protesters had misbehaved with police personnel and attempted to provoke them during demonstrations.

Somaiya questioned why activists who had criticised police action against protesters had not filed complaints against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his alleged misbehaviour towards a woman police personnel.

The BJP leader said he did not oppose anyone expressing an opinion on an issue but alleged that the current agitation against the SIR was intended to disrupt public order.

"Anyone can file a complaint if they believe their name has been wrongly deleted from the electoral rolls. But the current agitation is meant to create anarchy," he said.

Somaiya also questioned the expenditure incurred by protesters on vehicles, flights and hotel stays, asking how the demonstrations were being funded.

The allegations regarding Imran Khan's citizenship, the protest's alleged motives and its funding were made by Somaiya. The copy did not include a response from the actor or the other individuals named.