Mumbai: Actor Imran Khan’s participation in the August Kranti Maidan protest has stirred up a controversy with BJP politician Kirit Somaiya questioning how a foreign citizen can participate in a protest in India. Somaiya, in a post on X, said he has written to the joint commissioner of police, Manoj Kumar Sharma, seeking action against Khan for participating in the protest despite being a foreign citizen. TOI tried to reach Khan following Somaiya’s post, but he was not available for comment.Imran Khan, speaking to the media moments before being detained, said, “I am here as a citizen, as a person who lives in this city. I am here to see why freedom of movement is being restricted, why are people’s voices being repressed.”Civil rights activist and senior counsel Mihir Desai said a foreigner would not have the same “fundamental right” under the Indian Constitution to protest in India against Indian policies, but he would have a “restricted right to protest”. He cited Article 19 of Indian Constitution which gives a fundamental right to assemble and free speech to citizens of India.
