Now, Karan Johar’s remarks on intolerance kick up row

Filmmaker Karan Johar’s controversial remarks on intolerance kicked up a storm on Friday. The Congress hit out against the Narendra Modi government and accused it of stifling freedom of expression, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) dismissed the criticism, saying that India is the most tolerant country.

Wading into the intolerance debate, Johar said: “The talk about freedom of expression is the biggest joke I believe in the world. Democracy is the second biggest joke I think.” 

“I really wonder how are we really democratic? How is there freedom of expression? As a filmmaker, I feel bound at every level be it what I put out on celluloid or what I say in print,” he said at the Jaipur Literature Festival.

Attacking the NDA government, Congress leader Manish Tewari said: “This goverment of Modi is against intellectuals. They are against liberal voices. The tension is increasing from everywhere. Other than Anupam Kher, who is a pawn for the government, all other artists, painters, filmmakers are saying that this government is against intellectuals.” 

Union Minister Mahesh Sharma retaliated, saying: “The whole world is seeing that India is the most tolerant country.” 

His Cabinet colleague Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said:  “Those who are raising questions on India’s tolerance have no knowledge about the country’s culture and traditions. They are illiterate. It is true that issues of intolerance crop up the moment elections are announced.” 

Rubbishing their claims, Tewari said: “It is against every such behaviour that wants to take the liberal and all encompassing ideologies forward. If all other artists, actors, filmmakers and writers are saying that this government is against intellectuals and is trying to curb the freedom of expression, then it must be true. Truth does not need any evidence.”