I am guilty and deserve punishment: Om Puri on remarks against Indian soldiers

Following a sedition case filed against him, veteran Bollywood actor Om Puri came forward to apologise for his "insensitive" comments on Indian soldiers during a television debate. He said, on Wednesday, that he did deserve punishment for what he had said.

"I am very embarrassed at what I said and I deserve punishment, not forgiveness. I first apologise to his (an Uri attack martyr) family, if at all they will forgive me, I apologise to the whole country, the army. I know it's not justified that you say so much and then think a sorry will make it right," Hindustan Times quoted the actor as saying.

Adding that he wanted to be tried by the army, Puri said, "I am guilty and I deserve a punishment. The army should teach me how to use weapons and send me on the same site where that brave man was sacrificed for the country. I don't want to be forgiven. I am pleading to the nation I want to be punished."

The actor drew criticism from several quarters after he lost his cool on a live debate on a news channel, where he was speaking in support of Pakistani artistes and made a few uncharitable remarks about the Indian army.

"Who had asked the soldiers to join the army? Who told them to pick the weapons?" Om Puri had said.

Read More: Om Puri comes out in supports of Pakistani artistes, says banning them is no solution

An FIR has been registered against the actor at Andheri Police Station in Mumbai by a person named Prithvi Maske, who has requested a sedition charge to be filed against Puri under Section 124[A].

Read More: Actor Om Puri faces sedition charges after 'insensitive' comments on Indian soldiers

The remark came amid growing protests to ban Pakistani artistes and sportspersons. Puri expressed anguish over MNS' threat to Pakistani artistes to leave India, saying a ban is not a solution to terrorism.