Aamir Khan speaking at the function. Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan found himself in the centre of a political storm over his remarks on intolerance, with the BJP sharply criticising him and the Congress stoutly defending him. The actor-producer's candid remarks at an awards event in New Delhi the previous day set Twitter abuzz and left the film fraternity divided.
Aamir, 50, had said: “For the last six to eight months, there has been a growing despondency I would say. Kiran (wife Kiran Rao) and I have lived all our life in India. When I sit at home and talk to Kiran, for the first time she said, ‘Should we move out of India?’ Now that’s a very disastrous and a big comment to make to me.”
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju sought to contradict Aamir’s assertion and said: “The record shows that the number of incidents of communal violence in the country have come down since NDA came to power. Just to make a blatant statement that during NDA rule, the country has become intolerant, it unnecessarily tarnishes the image of the country.”
The Congress, however, supported Aamir, with party vice president Rahul Gandhi suggesting that the Narendra Modi government reach out to the people to know why they felt disturbed.
Rahul Gandhi tweeted: “Instead of branding all those who question the government and Modiji as unpatriotic, anti-national or ‘motivated’, the government would do better to reach out to people to understand what’s disturbing them.”
In a quick rebuttal, the BJP said Rahul Gandhi supporting Aamir’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,” BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain told media persons in New Delhi.
“India gave him all the laurels and respect. He should not forget that India made him a star,” Hussain said.
A complaint was lodged against the “PK” star by short filmmaker Ullhas PR with Delhi Police over the remarks. Meanwhile, hundreds of activists of the Hindu Sena on Tuesday staged a loud demonstration outside Khan’s residence in Mumbai protesting against his statement on intolerance. They were detained by the police and security beefed up around Aamir’s house.
And stoking further the ongoing debate on the rising intolerance in the country, BJP parliamentarian Yogi Adityanath said in New Delhi that people were free to leave as it will reduce the country’s population.
All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi, however, said the Muslims would not leave the country, come what may, and that they would continue to live here as “proud Indians”.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal supported the actor, and tweeted: “BJP should stop silencing voices through abuses and threats. It’s high time that the central government took concrete steps to instill a sense of security amongst people.”
Several members of the film fraternity, including Anupam Kher, Ram Gopal Varma and Ashoke Pandit, slammed Aamir, saying that he must spread hope and not fear.
Veteran actor Anupam — also a BJP supporter — questioned Aamir on Twitter if he had asked Kiran “which country would she like to move out to”.
“When did ‘Incredible India’ become ‘Intolerant India’ for you? Only in the last seven to eight months? #AtithiDevoBhavah,” Anupam tweeted.
Aamir, in 2008, was appointed to endorse the tourism ministry’s Incredible India campaign.
Ram Gopal Varma, too, wanted to know 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?”
Veteran actor Paresh Rawal, who starred in “OMG: Oh My God!” which questioned the existence of blind faith in godmen — much like Aamir’s blockbuster “PK”, commented: “‘PK’ did rattle the belief of Hindus, but Aamir didn’t face the wrath of Hindu or THE MAJORITY… but was superhit and made crores.”
There also were some who backed Aamir — music composer Vishal Dadlani of the Vishal-Shekhar duo, filmmaker Sanjay Gupta and veteran award-winning director Saeed Mirza, to name a few.
Dadlani said: “More power to your voice, @aamir_khan Sir! This is OUR country, it belongs to ALL Indians. Not to rabid lunatics from any party/religion. Thanks to Aamir Sir, for speaking against intolerance! Proud to see the giants of film, use their voices for India.”
“Look, you have points of view. Let them be heard. I heard about the statement of Aamir Khan this morning. In fact, I read about it. He has a point of view, let it be heard. We can debate it,” veteran award-winning director Saeed Mirza said on the sidelines of a parallel student’s film festival organised by the students of the Film and Television Institute of India in Panaji.
Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt told a television channel: “Whatever he said was in a simple manner and what his wife told him. If people have issues and are afraid to live in India, the government should come forward and address those issues. Yes, the situation of the country has changed, it is not a political statement, it is the government’s duty to listen to such voices.”
Pakistani filmmaker Jamshed Mahmood Raza said: “If Aamir Khan is speaking out about intolerance and facing a backlash, the Indian actor is probably right.”
Hundreds of activists of the Hindu Sena staged a vociferous demonstration outside Aaamir Khan’s home.
The activists shouted slogans like “Aamir Khan murdabad”, “Aamir Khan chale jao”, and attempted to force their way inside the actor’s home in Bandra but were prevented by a substantial police presence there.
Later, around a dozen activists were detained and taken to the Bandra police station. An official said police have deployed in adequate numbers to prevent any untoward incident.
On the issue of beefing up security, the official said that would be decided by a separate department depending on the requirement.
Meanwhile, while on a visit to Solapur, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis declined to comment on Aamir Khan’s comment.
“I have better things to do than react to all such statements. There are more pressing issues of the state than talking about these things,” Fadnavis told media persons.
In Pune, state Environment Minister Ramdas Kadam termed Aamir Khan’s comments as “treason” and said the actor was welcome to go to Pakistan if he felt so insecure in India.
“In India, we gave you so much love — Aamir Khan, Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan. We looked at your art and not your religion. Does it mean we have been feeding milk to a snake?” Kadam said.
In Satara, Nationalist Congress Party president Sharad Pawar declined to react to Aamir Khan’s remarks while offering condolences to the family of Col. Santosh Mahadik of the Indian Army who died fighting militants in Jammu and Kashmir.
Supporting film star Aamir Khan’s voicing of “alarm” Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress leader in the Lok Sabha, said his party wanted a discussion on the issue of intolerance during the winter session of Parliament.
“We have already given a notice for discussion on intolerance (in the upcoming parliament session),” Kharge said here.
The winter session of Parliament is slated to commence on November 26.
Referring to the Bollywood actor’s revelation of what his wife said, Kharge urged the government to find out the reason behind people’s sense of insecurity.
“If an individual expresses his opinion that he feels insecure, it is important to find out why they feel that way,” the former railway minister said.
If Aamir Khan is speaking out about intolerance and facing a backlash, the Indian actor is probably in the right, Pakistani filmmaker Jamshed Mahmood Raza said.
Raza, whose film “Moor” is Pakistan’s official entry to the Academy Awards this year, also said that he looked up to Aamir and was in awe of his contribution to the film industry.
“What Aamir Khan is saying about intolerance and if there is a backlash, then one has to think that maybe he is right. It is Aamir Khan who is saying this. He is one of your best. He is one of your best actors and activists and he is a hard core Indian and it is in his blood…” Raza said on the sidelines of the International Film Festival of India, which is underway in Panaji.
Raza, whose film “Moor” is being screened at the festival, also said that he looked up to Aamir. “We have gone through this a lot of times in Pakistan also and seeing this happen to Aamir Khan is not fair. He has given so much to the industry. I look up to him so much. It is sad,” Raza said.
Aamir Khan’s views should be heard and debated, veteran award winning director Saeed Mirza said, objecting to the host of charges being levelled against the popular actor for his comments.
Mirza, an alumnus of the FTII, has also directed critically appreciated films like “Ghashiram Kotwal”, “Albert Pinto Ko Gussa KyOon Aata Hai” as well as the tele-serial “Nukkad”.
“But you can’t have a statement being made and charges being levelled against a person who has made that statement,” Mirza said.
All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi said the Muslims would not leave the country, come what may, and that they would continue to live here as “proud Indians”.
“Muslims will not succumb to dog whistle politics of the Sangh Parivar and other fascist forces but continue their democratic struggle for justice, due share and the rights guaranteed by the Constitution of the country,” the Lok Sabha member from Hyderabad told reporters here.
When asked for reaction on Bollywood actor Aamir Khan’s revelation on Monday that his wife asked if they should move out of the country due to security situation prevailing in the country, the AIMIM leader said, “I can’t speak for a film star. I can only speak as a proud Indian Muslim that I will never succumb to all these dog whistle politics of the Sangh Parivar and other fascist organisations.”
“They can’t create fear in our hearts and minds because this is our county. So long as life on earth survives, Muslims will live in India as proud Indians,” he added.
Owaisi said Indian Muslims would definitely struggle for their due share and rightful position, which no one could deny them since it was what the constitution guarantees.
“We are Indians not only by birth but by choice. We have seen many adversities, many riots; thousands of lives were lost. We have also seen destruction of Babri Masjid,” he said.
Owaisi said grievances of Indian Muslims had always been with parties in power as they did not give them the rights the Constitution guaranteed. “Still this is our country. We will continue to fight. We will continue to struggle and definitely get our due share and our position,” he added.
The AIMIM leader said Muslims would not disappoint great freedom fighters who dreamt of Muslims living in the country as proud Indians.
After Congress and Delhi chief minister, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejaswi Yadav also came out in support of Aamir Khan.
“Aamir Khan is right that intolerance has increased in the country. Several artists, writers and others have announced return of their national awards in protest,” Tejaswi, younger son of Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad, said.
Tejaswi said several other celebrities before Aamir Khan have publicly stated that intolerance has increased in the country. “Many people will say the same thing on intolerance in the coming days as well,” he said.
“We will fight against increasing intolerance in the country,” the RJD leader said while criticising the Bharatiya Janata Party and other organisations over the issue.
“The central government must now wake up before it is too late to check and control intolerance,” the deputy chief minister added.
It was sad that Aamir Khan and his filmmaker wife Kiran Rao, who is a Hindu, felt like leaving India in the face of intolerance, Congress general secretary Digvijaya Singh said.
Digvijaya Singh was talking to reporters after a press conference at the Congress state headquarters, after a review meeting of the state unit’s executive committee.
“It’s sad that Aamir Khan, who is an icon among film actors not only in India, but across the world, is feeling the same thing.
“His wife is Hindu, she has also felt it, that with this kind of uncultured and intolerant atmosphere, it looks like those who are fighting against this will have to leave the country. This is a serious issue,” Digvijaya Singh said.
He described Kiran as a Hindu and a Brahmin by caste.
The actor’s comment has attracted sharp criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party, with party MP Yogi Adityanath even equating it with treason.
“I saw a member of parliament who said Aamir Khan has given a statement which is tantamount to treason. I believe that the BJP MP does not know the meaning of treason,” Digvijaya Singh said. (IANS)