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    Padma row: Adnan Sami slams Opposition for attacking his merit, asks them to refrain from commenting on his relationship with father

    Synopsis

    Sami is in the eye of a storm.

    Sami is not mincing his words and has responded to critics.
    Sami is not mincing his words and has responded to critics.
    Ever since the Government announced the list of winners of the prestigious Padma Shri award, the Opposition and the Left parties have questioned the merit of the awardees.

    And one such winner who has found himself courting controversy is Pakistani-origin singer Adnan Sami. Sami, who has been felicitated with Padma Shri, has been at the receiving end of criticism.The Opposition including, the Congress and the NCP, have not only been questioning Sami’s merit, but also bringing up his father’s past as a Pakistani airforce pilot.

    Adnan Sami pictured with his wife, Roya.
    Adnan Sami pictured with his wife, Roya.

    The 48-year-old singer, however, is not mincing his words and has responded to critics.

    Sami indulged in a public verbal spat with Congress spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill. It all started when Shergill tweeted a video from his Twitter account, asking the Government if it was fair to give Padma Shri to the son of a Pakistani Air Force pilot. The jibe was clearly directed towards Sami.


    Shergill then slammed the Government for giving Padma Shri to Sami, saying, “Magic of govt chamchagiri”.


    Sami responded to Shergill’s tweet, asking him why should a son be held accountable, and penalised for the act of his father.

    The ugly Twitter spat didn’t end here. Shergill responded to Sami’s tweet, writing, “Objection is to Policy of declaring Indian Soldier as foreigner & giving award to family of a Pak soldier”.


    Shergill also asked Sami to recount five contributions towards India in the last five years. Sami then responded to his tweet, asking him not to talk about his relationship with his father.



    Shergill ended the spat with a tweet, saying that it is not his nature to indulge in Twitter spats “but if someone will attack me personally then it is important to teach them in their own language”.

    While Congress leaders slammed Sami being awarded the Padma Shri, the BJP and the LJP maintained their stance that Sami is highly deserving of the honour.

    Adnan Sami performing one of his hit numbers.
    Adnan Sami performing one of his hit numbers.

    BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra wondered if the Opposition only liked Muslims who are ‘against’ PM Modi. He also raked up Congress president Sonia Gandhi's father and spoke of his alleged association with Mussolini and Hitler to ask why she was given Indian citizenship.


    Sami had applied for Indian citizenship in 2015 and became a citizen of the country in January 2016.

    He was one of the 118 people whose names were announced on Saturday for the Padma Shri awards, including the likes of Kangana Ranaut, Karan Johar, Ekta Kapoor and others.


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