Mumbai: In the latest display of what can be seen as Islamophobic reaction, Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan was slammed on Twitter for 'spitting' over Lata Mangeshkar's mortal remains on Sunday.
At the veteran singer's state-sponsored funeral in Mumbai, the actor had offered dua - Muslim prayer raising hands while paying his respects. As is custom, he blew into the wind when he was done, momentarily lowering his mask.
However, the BJP was seen to have chosen to play its religious politics once again during the emotional farewell instead of acknowledging the country's multicultural value.
BJP's state-in-charge for Haryana, Arun Yadav was the first to share a video of a TV broadcast that showed Shah Rukh reciting a prayer before blowing in the air. Sharing the video, Yadav asked disparagingly, "Did he spit?"
M Nageswara Rao IPS (R), who was former director of the CBI, also questioned Shah Rukh's actions and said 'Did you @iamsrk spit at the funeral of #LataMangeshkar Ji? Being a public figure you are required to give public clarification immediately."
Other netizens joined the bandwagon, giving a communal angle and alleged that the star has spit near the mortal remains.
"Can't believe SRK spitted on #LataDidi's body while paying his "last respect" to her... Even if your Mazhab teaches you this, practice this at your home or with your own people..." another Twitter user wrote.
However, several people responded to Yadav and others by clarifying what Khan's action denoted, and also slammed the party for having such little knowledge of Islamic customs.
Other fans of Khan's also appreciated his tribute at Mangeshkar's funeral.
"Srk did not spit, he blew to ward off evil for Lataji as per his religion & if people read more like I did, they would understand. As for can Hindus pray at funeral of someone from a Muslim faith, then the answer is Yes.Because, I have & no one had a problem with it," one user wrote.
"SRK didn't spit there. He blew, which is a common practice in Islam. Muslims do blow air from their mouth after reciting Ayats from Holy Quran. RWs are making issue out of nothing that too in the death of an eminent personality", another twitter user wrote.
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) also accused the BJP of trying to communalise the event, saying Yadav was speaking not out of "peak stupidity" but "peak evil".
Meanwhile, a photograph of Mr Khan with his hands raised in dua and of his manager Ms Dadlani with her hands joined in a pranaam went viral on social media, with most people appreciating how the frame beautifully captured India's diversity.
Lata Mangeshkar was cremated with full state honours in Mumbai on Sunday, February 6.