Aamir intolerance remarks stoke acrimonious debate

Khan’s remarks that his wife Kiran “fears for her child, she fears for the atmosphere around us” and had asked him if they should move out of India had stirred the controversy, eliciting divided reactions from the film fraternity. The actor had said this at a function in the national Capital on Monday.

“Record shows that the number of communal violence incidents in the country have come down since the NDA came to power. It’s a blatant statement that during the NDA’s rule the country has become intolerant. It unnecessarily tarnishes the image of the country,” said Union Minister Kiren Rijiju.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal backed Khan and tweeted: “BJP should stop silencing voices through abuses and threats. It’s high time that the Central government took concrete steps to instil a sense of security amongst people.”

The Congress too came out in Khan’s support, with party vice-president Rahul Gandhi suggesting that the Narendra Modi-led government should reach out to people and find out the reason why they felt disturbed. In a series of tweets 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!”

Rebutting him, the BJP said Gandhi supporting Khan’s comment only reeks of a conspiracy to defame the nation. “We completely reject the comment of Aamir Khan. He is not scared, but he is trying to scare people. Aamir Khan makes a comment and Rahul Gandhi supports it. It becomes clear from Gandhi’s comment that there is a conspiracy going on in the country to defame the nation. India gave him all the laurels and respect. He should not forget that India made him a star,” said BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain.

Also, All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi rubbished Khan’s remarks saying, “I would have never said what Aamir said. We have seen numerous riots, but still we continue to live here as it is our country. We will not succumb to nonsense talks. We will do disservice to those who fought for us. We will struggle and strive to live here to improve the country.”

Meanwhile short filmmaker Ullhas PR on Tuesday filed a police complaint at the New Ashok Nagar police station in New Delhi against Khan for his remarks.

In Mumbai, activists of the Hindu Sena staged a demonstration outside Khan’s house. Security has been beefed up outside his house, said a senior police official.

Members from the film fraternity such as Anupam Kher, Ram Gopal Varma and Ashoke Pandit slammed Khan, saying that he must spread hope and not fear. Addressing Khan, Kher in a series of tweets said: “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….Did you tell Kiran that you have lived through more worse times in this country & but you never thought of moving out…When did ‘Incredible India’ become ‘Intolerant India’ for you? Only in the last 7-8 months? … When did ‘Incredible India’ become ‘Intolerant India’ for you? Only in the last 7-8 months?” 

Ram Gopal Varma too questioned Khan that when “Aamir, Shah Rukh and Salman -- the three biggest stars of the Hindu country India are Muslims, I don’t understand where intolerance is?” Music composer Vishal Dadlani and filmmaker Sanjay Gupta supported Khan. Dadlani said: “More power to your voice, @aamir_khan Sir! This is OUR country, it belongs to ALL Indians.”