"Don't be so narrow-minded": Supreme Court dismisses plea seeking ban on Pakistani artistes to work in India

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The Supreme Court Tuesday rejected a plea calling for a complete ban on Pakistani artists from performing or working in India, asking the petitioner against being "so narrow-minded."

Justices Sanjiv Khanna and SVN Bhatti stated that they were disinclined to overturn the Bombay High Court's decision to dismiss the plea filed by Faaiz Anwar Qureshi, who identifies as a cine worker and artist. "You should not press this appeal. Do not be so narrow-minded," the bench said.

The top court also refused the submission to expunge certain remarks made by the high court against the petitioner, news wire PTI reported.

The petition had sought the court's direction to the central government to impose a complete ban on Indian citizens, companies, firms and associations from employing or soliciting any work or performance, taking of any services, or entering into any association and so on with any Pakistani artiste, including its cine workers, singers, musicians, lyricists and technicians.

The Bombay High Court had dismissed the petition, saying the reliefs it seeks is a retrograde step in promoting cultural harmony, unity and peace, and has no merit in it.

"One must understand that in order to be a patriot, one need not be inimical to those from abroad especially, from the neighbouring country," the court had said.

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"A true patriot is a person who is selfless, who is devoted to the cause of his country, which he cannot be unless he is a person who is good at heart. A person who is good at heart would welcome in his country any activity which promotes peace, harmony, and tranquillity within the country and across the border," it had said.

Arts, music, sports, culture, dance and so on are the activities which rise above nationalities, cultures and nations, and truly bring about peace, tranquillity, unity and harmony in nation and between nations, the high court had said in its order.

It had noted that in the Cricket World Cup, Pakistan was a participant. This happened only because of appreciable positive steps taken by the Indian government in the interest of overall peace and harmony in consonance with Article 51 of the Constitution of India which is about promotion of international peace and security, the high court had said. (With inputs from PTI)