Goa BJP Leader Demands Ajay Devgn, Akshay Kumar and Shah Rukh Khan’s Padma Award To Be Taken Back for Promoting Tobacco Products

Panaji, April 20: Goa BJP's medical cell convenor, Shekhar Salkar, on Wednesday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to strip Bollywood actors Amitabh Bachchan, Ajay Devgn and Akshay Kumar and Shah Rukh Khan off their Padma awards for featuring in surrogate advertisements promoting tobacco products. Shah Rukh Khan’s Dunki To Clash With Akshay Kumar-Tiger Shroff’s Bade Miyan Chote Miyan at Box Office in December 2023.

"I have no words to condemn the way Akshay Kumar has joined the gang of Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan and Ajay Devgan to promote cancer through a surrogate advt of tobacco product. Ironically, all these people are Padma award winners," Salkar Tweeted.

"While @PMOIndia is working overtime to make India healthy through Fit India movement, the entire mission is humiliated by these so-called influencers with their surrogate advt trapping the younger generation into tobacco consumption. Do these actors really deserve Padmashri," asked Salkar, who is also an office-bearer of the National Organisation for Tobacco Eradication.

"People have put their faith in these disgraced, dishononurable actors who have sold their soul and ethics to make money at the cost of minds of innocent youth who emulate them and get adversely influenced and initiated to tobacco consumption," he added. Selfiee: Akshay Kumar Wraps Up Shooting Schedule of Driving Licence Remake.

Bachchan is the recipient of the Padma Vibhushan award, while Khan, Devgn and Akshay Kumar have been awarded the Padmashri award, the country's fourth highest civilian honour.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 20, 2022 10:25 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).