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Citizenship row: Akshay Kumar thanks Kiren Rijiju for his support

| @indiablooms | May 08, 2019, at 04:29 pm

New Delhi May 8 (IBNS): At a time when actor Akshay Kumar found himself in the middle of a controversy over his citizenship issue, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju came out in support of him and said "no one can question your patriotism".

"Dear @akshaykumar ji, no one can question your patriotism. Your motivation to our Armed Forces personnel and the way you generated funds for our martyrs through #BharatKeVeer programme will remain an example for every patriotic Indian," Kiren tweeted.

Akshay Kumar, popularly known as Bollywood's 'Khiladi', was quick in responding and thanked the minister for coming out in support of him.

"Thank you so much @KirenRijiju Sir, and I apologise for the delayed response. I am grateful for your kind words. Please be assured, my commitment to #BharatKeVeer and to the Indian armed forces would remain steady, no matter what ," Akshay tweeted.

The controversy:

Actor Akshay Kumar on Friday said he could not understand why there is 'unwarranted interest' and 'negativity' about his Canadian citizenship issue.

" I really don’t understand the unwarranted interest and negativity about my citizenship. I have never hidden or denied that I hold a Canadian passport. It is also equally true that I have not visited Canada in the last seven years," he said in a statement.

Akshay did not vote in the Lok Sabha polls this year due to his Canadian citizenship.

"I work in India, and pay all my taxes in India. While all these years, I have never needed to prove my love for India to anyone, I find it disappointing that my citizenship issue is constantly dragged into needless controversy, a matter that is personal, legal, non-political, and of no consequence to others," he said.

Akshay said he will continue to contribute in his small way to make India stronger.

"I would like to continue contributing in my small way to the causes that I believe in and make India stronger and stronger," he said.

Akshay is known for working in several patriotic movies like Gold and Kesari. 

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