Hindu spiritual leader Jagadguru Rambhadracharya on Thursday criticised Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan over Kolkata Knight Riders signing Bangladeshi cricketer Mustafizur Rahman for the Indian Premier League 2026 season.
Reacting to the decision, Rambhadracharya termed the move “very unfortunate” and alleged that Shah Rukh Khan’s outlook has “always been like that of a traitor”. He made the remarks while speaking to PTI Videos in Nagpur.
Referring to reported attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh, the seer said the Indian government should not tolerate such incidents and must adopt a firm and aggressive stance to protect Hindus living in the neighbouring country. He also said Bangladesh should be reminded of the role played by Hindus in the formation of the country, asserting that their contribution should not be forgotten.
The comments sparked political reactions. Congress MP Manickam Tagore strongly condemned the use of the word “traitor” for Shah Rukh Khan, calling it an attack on India’s pluralism. In a post on X, the Virudhunagar MP said hate cannot define nationalism and accused the RSS of poisoning society.
The signing of Mustafizur Rahman has also drawn criticism from some Hindu religious leaders and BJP figures. BJP leader Sangeet Som described Shah Rukh Khan as a traitor and claimed that investing in players from Bangladesh was against national interest, citing alleged persecution of Hindus in the country.
At the IPL 2026 mini auction held in Abu Dhabi, Kolkata Knight Riders secured Mustafizur Rahman for ₹9.2 crore. The 30 year old left arm pacer has taken 65 wickets in 60 IPL matches since making his debut in 2016.
