In an escalating debate on the alleged intolerance in the country, film actor and face of ‘Incredible India’ campaign Aamir Khan on Tuesday came under fire for his remarks of “growing disquiet” in the country as the BJP linked his statement to a “deep political conspiracy” of the Congress to malign the country and film personalities and social media also slammed the Bollywood star. The Congress defended Aamir’s comment with party vice-president Rahul Gandhi saying the Government should not “bully or threaten” people who question it.
“Aamir’s comments showed that he is not scared but is scaring others and the BJP rejects his charge,” said party’s national spokesman Shahnawaz Hussain at a Press conference in Mumbai, fielded by the BJP to counter Aamir.
Aamir’s colleagues in the industry also questioned the 50-year-old actor as to why he did not talk of leaving the country during “worse times” earlier. Many sought to see Aamir’s comments as motivated and “unpatriotic” as the former expressed “alarm and despondency” over the rise in incidents of intolerance in the last six to eight months.
“Where will Aamir and his family go other than IndiaIJ There is no better country than India and no better neighbour than a Hindu for an Indian Muslim. What is the situation in Muslim countries and EuropeIJ There is intolerance everywhere,” Shahnawaz said at the Press conference, adding “India is the most secular state where Muslims enjoy equal rights. In our country, an artist is not judged by his caste and religion but by his art.”
Hussain also took a swipe at the Congress vice-president for coming out in support of Aamir Khan. He said there was a “deep political conspiracy” by the Congress to defame the country by harping on an atmosphere of intolerance in India.
“This shows Congress complicity in the campaign to malign the country. Congress cannot tolerate an elected Government and a popular Prime Minister. When the country is progressing under the leadership of Narendra Modi, Congress is creating an atmosphere to malign the country,” he charged.
Hussain said Aamir’s comments showed that he is not scared but is scaring others and the BJP rejects his charge.
BJP MP and Hindutva leader Yogi Adityanath took a swipe at Khan, saying nobody has stopped him from leaving India if he wants to and it will help reduce the country’s population.
Union Minister for Human Resource Development Smriti Irani also had a jibe at him, saying it was an evidence of the freedom of expression and tolerance that he can be a brand ambassador for a Government’s initiative and also be at a platform in front of Ministers and speak his mind. He has a political inclination and it is his right to have it, she said.
Union Minister for Home Kiren Rijiju said his comments on intolerance were completely misplaced and such remarks only bring the image of the country and Prime Minister Narendra Modi down.
BJP spokesperson Nalin Kohli reminded Khan that his last movie PK was a resounding box office success despite protests by right wing groups and it was an evidence of India’s tolerant society.
Bollywood celebrities Anupam Kher, Ram Gopal Varma and Raveena Tandon took to tweeting in criticising the actor for his intolerance remarks. Kher, who has shared screen space with Khan in a number of hits, hit out at him saying, “India has made him what he is”.
“Dear Aamir Khan, Did you ask Kiran which country would she like to move out toIJ Did you tell her that this country has made you AAMIR KHANIJ Did you tell Kiran that you have lived through worse times in this country but you never thought of moving outIJ” he said.
Taking a dig at Aamir’s ‘Atithi Devo Bhavah’ campaign and his popular TV show Satyamev Jayate, Kher questioned when did ‘Incredible India’ become ‘Intolerant India’ for himIJ “Only in the last 7-8 monthsIJ”
Varma, who directed Aamir in Rangeela, wrote, “Some celebs complaining about intolerance should be the last ones to complain because they became celebs in a so-called intolerant country... Compared to any country India is the most tolerant and if some people are unhappy here also they should tell which country they will go to.
Aamir got support from the Congress and it suggested that the Government should not brand its critics as unpatriotic and threaten them for “speaking truth”.
Ina tweet, Rahul Gandhi said: “Instead of branding all those who question the Govt & Modiji -- as unpatriotic, anti-national or ‘motivated’, the Govt would do better to reach out to people to understand what’s disturbing them. That’s the way to solve problems in India -- not by bullying, threatening & abusing!”
The party, which is all set to rake up the “intolerant India debate” in Parliament this week, said what Aamir is saying, the whole world is saying and asked the current dispensation to pay heed to the message.
“What Aamir Khan, one of the most respected actors, has said in the presence of many senior BJP people is what the whole world is saying, all of India is saying, all right- minded people are saying,” Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said.
Taking a dig at BJP, Singhvi said Khan should not be branded as a Congressman for raising the intolerance issue. “I only hope and trust that he will not be referred to as a Congressman. I will only hope and trust he will not be referred to in derogatory terms. These are the people whose conscience is speaking. Instead of criticising them, heed should be paid to the message, not shooting the messenger,” the Rajya Sabha MP said.