BJP Leaders Draw Flak for Falsely Claiming SRK ‘Spit’ at Lata Mangeshkar’s Funeral

Two BJP leaders and several other right-wing social media users seemed unaware – whether wilfully or otherwise – of the custom of blowing into the wind after offering dua.

New Delhi: At veteran singer Lata Mangeshkar’s state-sponsored funeral in Mumbai on Sunday (February 6), Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan offered dua and said a prayer while paying his respects. As is custom, he blew into the wind when he was done, momentarily lowering his mask.

Despite this being a common, well-documented Islamic ritual, Bharatiya Janata Party leaders and supporters decided to make it appear on social media as if Khan was “spitting” on Mangeshkar. The state in-charge of BJP Haryana, Arun Yadav, was one of the first to make this allegation, tweeting “Kya isne thuka hai (Did he spit)?” along with a video clip.

At the time of publication, Yadav’s tweet was still visible for all to see, despite it now having been refuted many times over. No other BJP leader has come forward in Khan’s defence or to censure Yadav for his false, provocative comment thus far.

Another BJP leader, the party’s Uttar Pradesh spokesperson Prashant Umrao, too made this allegation.

Other right-wing Hindu social media users too jumped on this bandwagon, and the clip of Khan blowing after offering dua went viral.

Several people responded to Yadav and others by clarifying what Khan’s action denoted, and also slammed them for having such little knowledge of Islamic customs. Other fans of Khan’s also appreciated his tribute at Mangeshkar’s funeral.

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) accused the BJP of trying to communalise the event, saying Yadav was speaking not out of “peak stupidity” but “peak evil”.