CM ‘admires’ Aamir for speaking up on intolerance

Aam Aadmi Party convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has supported and “admired” Bollywood actor Aamir Khan for “speaking up” against growing intolerance and insecurity in the country, and asked the Centre for taking concrete steps to instill sense of security among people.

“Every word that @aamir_khan said is so true. I admire him for speaking up,” Kejriwal tweeted. Khan had said that he was “alarmed” by a number of “incidences” and that his wife had even suggested “leaving” the country, while addressing the audience at an awards’ function here on Monday.

The actor said he also feels that the sense of insecurity and fear has been growing in the past six or eight months.

Accusing BJP of “silencing” voices of dissent, Kejriwal asked the Centre to take concrete steps to instill security among the people.

“BJP shud stop silencing voices thro abuses n threats. Its high time centrl govt took concrete steps 2 instil sense of security amngst people,” he wrote on Twitter. 

Meanwhile, AAP member Sanjay Singh also said: “It is disturbing to understand that the government of India and the members of the ruling party at the Centre have chosen to ridicule its criticism rather than taking constructive measures to reassure people of safety and harmony.” The way functionaries of the Narendra Modi-government and the leaders of BJP have reacted to the observation by Aamir Khan is highly condemnable. 

“Are they trying to say that no person in the country have the right to criticise the ways and methods of the government. Is the BJP government in the Centre above all criticism,” said Singh. When Aamir Khan gave his opinion, he was speaking as a representative of society concerned about the recent developments. “If this trend goes on, we are heading towards a time when anyone who tries to be critical about the government will be abused and harassed,” he added.

“The statement by BJP leader that “every Muslim in the country is safe” is deplorable and beyond any logic. It is not the question of the safety of Muslims alone. What the nation is seeking from the government is to protect the rights of every citizens of the country. Why is the BJP trying to categorise a particular community,” the statement said.