Filmmaker Ali Akbar Renames Himself Ramasimhan, Renounces Islam In Protest Against Offensive Posts On Late Gen Bipin Rawat

New Delhi: Irked with social media users allegedly posting smiley emojis to the reports of chopper crash in Tamil Nadu in which Chief of Defence Staff Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika and 11 other defence personnel died, Malayali filmmaker, Ali Akbar has announced that he and his wife are renouncing Islam.

In a video released on social media, the filmmakers said, “I am not a Muslim from today onwards. I am an Indian.”

“Today, I am throwing away an attire I received by birth,” the filmmaker-turned-politician was quoted as saying by PTI.

Reports said Ali Akbar will now become Ramasimhan, the new Hindu identity that he has chosen for himself. He also said that he would not force his two daughters to convert as it will be their personal choice. That no religious leader called out the social media “jubilations” over Bipin Rawat’s death has hurt him, he said.

Karnataka chief minister Basavaraj Bommai on Friday said he has ordered the Karnataka Police to take immediate action against offensive posts about Gen Rawat’s chopper crash.

The Uttarakhand government has issued a similar warning as chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said, “Respect for our soldiers is topmost for us. Late Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat will always be Uttarakhand’s pride. If any miscreant makes any objectionable comment about any late defence personnel on social media or otherwise, our government will take stringent legal action against them.”