Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 8: As the tension along the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border (IB) has escalated due to continuous ceasefire violations by Pakistan, Bolly-wood actor Akshay Kumar , who was here in Jammu to boost the morale of the Border Security Force (BSF) jawans, called for restoration of peace along the Indo-Pak border in Jammu and Kashmir.
Akshay, 49, arrived here this morning from Delhi to spend time with BSF jawans.
On his arrival, Akshay met BSF school students and laid wreath at the BSF martyrs memorial. He was accompanied by Inspector General of BSF, Jammu Frontier, DK Uphadhyaya and top BSF officers.
Encouraging the border guards, Bollywood Actor recognized himself as reel hero, but BSF jawans as real heroes.
“I am only a reel hero but you (BSF) jawans are the real heroes”, Akshay Kumar said while addressing BSF jawans at Frontier Headquarters after paying tribute to all the jawans, who lost their lives in ceasefire violation by Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir.
“I am fortunate that I got the opportunity to come and meet you. I have always said that I’m a reel hero but you (BSF jawans) are the real heroes. I play with toy guns in films but you with original guns on borders. Really, you are big hearted”, Akshay said.
The actor said that BSF jawans should be on the stage in his place and he should have been in the field.
“Aap Log Hein To Hum Hein. Aap Log Hein To Hindustan Hai”, (It is only because of you we are secure and India)”, said the 49-year-old Akshay.
Amid slogans, actor said he had wished to meet BSF jawans. “I thank BSF for giving me opportunity to meet you all”, he added.
Earlier, the actor, whose father was also an army man, had donated Rs 9 lakh to the family of a martyred BSF jawan Gurnaam Singh. This donation came days after his earlier donation of Rs 80 lakh to the army.
“They are decorated with a lot of medals and that is good. The samman (honour) was required for them but they need the money too. You have to be practical”, he added.
The jawans queued up to meet Akshay and clicked pictures with him. Locals and families of jawans thronged the venue to have glimpse of the actor and shake hand with him. Some of them also attempted to click selfies with Akshay.
“He is not only best actor but a patriotic Indian who cares for the armed forces. We are humbled with his presence among us. It is a good moral boost”, a BSF officer said.
Bollywood actor added that mobile application should be developed to help BSF. “There are a lot of people in India who want to help BSF and army martyrs. Why cannot we make such an App, in which the names of martyrs of BSF and army, their account numbers and that of their parents are displayed”, the actor added.
Asked if he wants to give any message to Pakistan, he said that it is not political function. “We are not discussing fights, we are discussing love. We are discussing things about BSF”, he said.
Meanwhile, the students of BSF School were left disappointed after their wish of shaking a leg with Bollywood star Akshay Kumar on popular song “Jai Ho” did not come true.
“We all wanted our favorite actor Akshay Kumar to dance with us to the tunes of ‘Jai Ho’. It was wish of all of us”, said a 9th class student of BSF Higher Secondary School, who was part of the group performing for the actor at the event organized in the BSF campus.
We were disappointed and ended the dance in middle of the song as no one was looking to us,” another student said.
Akshay was mobbed by media and the BSF jawans and the children couldn’t request him to dance with them. He left quickly within few minutes as he was mobbed by the media and jawans.
The actor requested the media and other people to give him space to meet the school children.
Bollywood Actor wrote on the Facebook Page about his visit to BSF Frontier Headquarters at Paloura in Jammu. He wrote “Jammu and Kashmir you beauty!Just returning from meeting the heroes who are fighting a battle everyday to protect us. BSF thank you for having me”.
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