Indian actor, director and producer Aamir Khan spoke up about an issue that has been making news across India, growing intolerance, during the Ramnath Goenka Awards function of The Indian Express Group.
"It is disastrous and big statement for Kiran [his wife, filmmaker Kiran Rao] to make to me. She fears for her child, what the atmosphere around us will be, she feels scared to open the newspaper every day. There is a growing sense of disquiet, and despondency. You feel depressed, you feel low. Why is this happening?" he said, reports the BBC.
Khan said that the growing sense of despondency alarmed him. "Important that those in power strongly condemn what's wrong. Historians, scientists have had a view to express. Returning awards is one way of getting your point across. Everyone has the right to protest," he said, adding that he supported any protest that was non-violent.
His statements drew widespread criticism and backlash from all over the country, though Khan did have his share of supporters.
"No one has the right to ask someone to leave this country or go to Pakistan," said Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, addressing a rally of the minorities in Kolkata, reports the Indian Express. "We all are citizens of this country, India. Nobody can say anything against them in this country. Whether Aamir is wrong or right, why would they decide? He has said something what he felt and what his wife told him. He has been asked to leave the country, as if the country is theirs and not ours. Who are they to ask someone to leave this country? This country belongs to everyone. This is our motherland,"
Meanwhile, yesteryears star and BJP MP Shatrughan Sinha criticized Khan's statement.
"Am fond of Amir Khan & family. But wholeheartedly disapprove of the idea of India being labelled intolerant by him and others too. Our vast motherland is inherently & essentially peace loving and respectful of every caste, creed, religion and celebrates communal harmony. 'PK', where Hindu Gods & Goddess were made fun of in no uncertain terms wud not have seen such success if India was intolerant," said Sinha via Twitter, according to the Times of India.
"First let me state categorically that neither I, nor my wife Kiran, have any intention of leaving the country," read a statement by Khan on Twitter that was carried in many national and local newspapers. "We never did, and nor would we like to in the future. I stand by everything that I have said in my interview. To all those people who are calling me anti-national, I would like to say that I am proud to be Indian, and I do not need anyone's permission nor endorsement for that."
— Aamir Khan (@aamir_khan) November 25, 2015
