New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh Minister Thakur Raghuraj Singh has sparked a massive political and social media outcry after publicly labelling Bollywood superstar
Salman Khan a “traitor,” demanding his execution. The minister later issued a startling “clarification” that shifted his target to Shah Rukh Khan.
The controversy began when Minister Raghuraj Singh gave an interview to a local newspaper, launching an uncontrolled attack on Salman Khan. The minister accused the actor of harbouring more love for Pakistan than India. He suggested that if his loyalties lay across the border, he should move there permanently.
Singh further alleged that the actor “steals the country’s money” to send to Pakistan and Bangladesh. He claimed that the actor earns his fortune by attracting Hindu audiences only to support Muslim causes and foreign interests. The rhetoric peaked when the minister demanded that Salman Khan be given the death penalty and urged the Indian public to boycott his films entirely.
Beat this.
UP Minister Thakur Raghuraj Singh, who called actor Salman Khan a traitor and wanted him hanged, has now issued a clarification. He basically meant those words for Shahrukh Khan.
“Salman Khan is a good actor, I meant it for Shahrukh Khan” https://t.co/Dr6VO3JpES pic.twitter.com/XFXozbAf7m
— Piyush Rai (@Benarasiyaa) January 15, 2026
The ‘mistake’ and the shift to Shah Rukh Khan
As the video of his remarks went viral and tensions escalated, the BJP minister issued a video clarification that took an unexpected turn. Rather than retracting the inflammatory language, Singh claimed he had simply named the wrong superstar.
“Salman Khan is a good actor,” Singh stated in his video message. “I meant it for Shah Rukh Khan. Salman Khan’s name was taken by mistake.”
The minister then redirected his “traitor” accusations toward Shah Rukh Khan, alleging that the Pathaan star had provided financial assistance to Pakistan during difficult times. He also took issue with Shah Rukh Khan’s past comments regarding mob lynching in India, using these points to justify his previous calls for a boycott and harsh punishment.
A pattern of provocation
Thakur Raghuraj Singh is no stranger to controversy. The minister has a documented history of making polarising statements, including a previous claim that “the more educated a Muslim is, the bigger a terrorist he becomes”, a remark that triggered significant backlash at the time.
Echoes of past political attacks on KKR owner
This incident mirrors previous attacks on the Bollywood elite by other firebrand leaders. The story also recalls the actions of BJP leader Sangeet Som, who previously branded Shah Rukh Khan a traitor. Som’s ire was specifically directed at Shah Rukh’s IPL franchise, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), for signing Bangladeshi cricketer Mustafizur Rahman. That controversy grew so intense that religious leaders joined the fray, eventually leading to the player’s removal following BCCI intervention.
