New Delhi: Bollywood actor Aamir Khan has joined the conversation on the impending issue of intolerance in India.
At the 2015 edition of the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards held in Delhi on Monday, the superstar said that he is alarmed with the recent happenings in the country.
"When you see a person committing violence, the first mistake we make is labelling them Islamic terrorist/Hindu terrorist," he said, adding that in the past six to eight months level of insecurity has risen across the nation.
Aamir also said that this disturbs his wife Kiran Rao as well and that she suggested that they should leave India and settle somewhere else.
"When I chat with Kiran at home, she says 'Should we move out of India?' That's a disastrous and big statement for Kiran to make. She fears for her child. She fears about what the atmosphere around us will be. She feels scared to open the newspapers every day. That does indicate that there is this sense of growing disquiet, there is growing despondency apart from alarm. You feel why this is happening, you feel low. That sense does exist in me," Khan had said.
Remark insult to his fans: Govt
Reacting to his remarks, the government said that Khan has insulted his fans by delivering controversial remark on intolerance.
Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, the Minister of State for Minority Affairs, said that Khan is safe in India and that his comments are influenced by politically motivated campaigns.
"We won't let Aamir leave the country, he is safe. This kind of comment influenced by a politically motivated campaign insults those who have given so much honour to Aamir in India," he said.
Kiren Rijiju, MoS for Home Affairs, said: "Number of deaths in communal incidents had come down since the BJP came to power last year and to make a blatant statement is not proper."
Another BJP MP Manoj Tiwari said that Khan disgraced the nation with his remarks.
"I'm deeply saddened and shocked by his statement. I am thinking what people like me who've showered him with their love, affection and respect must be going through," Tiwari, also a prominent Bhojpuri actor, said.
The BJP reminded Khan that his last movie 'PK' was a resounding box office success despite protests by some right wing outfits, stressing that it was an example of how tolerant Indian society is.
BJP spokesperson Nalin Kohli said: "Some isolated examples, however, extreme are exceptions to India's inherent tolerant nature. It would be unfortunate to let isolated examples be taken as a norm that define India. Our Constitution guarantees freedom of expression and Aamir Khan like any citizen is entitled to his personal opinion. And any one who disagrees with him also enjoys the same freedom."
Anupam Kher questions Aamir Khan's remark on intolerance
Meanwhile, veteran actor Anupam Kher question Khan's remark on 'growing intolerance' saying 'when had Incredible India turned Intolerant India for him?'
He also asked Khan why he had not raised his voice earlier when the situation had been even worse.
"Dear @aamir_khan. When did 'Incredible India' become 'Intolerant India' for you? Only in the last 7-8 months?" the actor said in a tweet.
"Dear @aamir_khan. #SatyamevaJayate u talked about evil practices but gave Hope. So even in 'Intolerant' times u need 2 spread Hope not Fear," the actor said in another tweet.
"Dear @aamir_khan. Did you ask Kiran which country would she like to move out to? Did you tell her that this country has made you Aamir Khan," he said.
"Dear @aamir_khan. Did you tell Kiran that you have lived through more worse times in this country & but you never thought of moving out," he added.
"Dear @aamir_khan Presumed country has become #Intolerant. Wat do u suggest 2 millions of Indians? Leave India? Or wait till regime changes?" he said.
