India seeks answers :

Shahrukh Khan US questioning

india: The Indian government said Sunday the United States must explain why Bollywood star Shahrukh Khan was questioned at a New York airport, after the actor suggested he was singled out as a Muslim.

Khan, who was interviewed by officials at Newark Liberty International Airport, told an Indian television station by telephone that Khan "is a Muslim name and I think the name is common on their checklist".

Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel told reporters that India would "take the issue (up) with the United States government strongly".

"Such incidents involving Indians due to their religion or nationality should not happen," he said. "We will not accept it."

The minister's intervention came after India's Sunday newspapers railed against the treatment of Khan, who has a huge following in the Hindu-majority country.

New Delhi, AFP