Aamir Khan talks about ‘growing intolerance’

Just when the debate around the so-called ‘growing intolerance’ was subsiding, Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan has added more fuel to the debate. The actor also went on to say that his wife was considering moving out of the country.

Here’s what he had to say at the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards:

“As an individual, as part of this country as a citizen, we read in the papers what is happening, we see it on the news and certainly, I have been alarmed. I can’t deny. I have been alarmed by a number of incidents”

“When I chat with Kiran at home, she says ‘Should we move out of India?’ That’s a disastrous and big statement for Kiran to make. She fears for her child. She fears about what the atmosphere around us will be. She feels scared to open the newspapers every day. That does indicate that there is this sense of growing disquiet, there is growing despondency apart from alarm. You feel why this is happening, you feel low. That sense does exist in me”

“People who are our elected representatives, people who we select to look after us for five years, state or centre… when people take law into their hands, we look upon these people to take a strong stance, to make a strong statement, speed up the legal process, when we see that happening there is a sense of security but when we don’t see that happening there is a sense of insecurity.”

“A number of creative people — historians, scientists — increasingly had a certain feeling in them, which they felt they need to express. For creative people, one of the ways of expressing their dissatisfaction or their disappointment is to return their awards. I think that’s one way of getting your point across”

“All individuals have a right to protest and they can protest in any manner that they feel is right as long as they are not taking the law into their hands.”

In response to Aamir’s comments on intolerance, actor Anupam Kher posted a few tweets on Twitter.

“Dear @aamir_khan. 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.”

“Dear @aamir_khan. Did you tell Kiran that you have lived through more worse times in this country & but you never thought of moving out.”

“Dear @aamir_khan. When did ‘Incredible India’ become ‘Intolerant India’ for you? Only in the last 7-8 months? #AtithiDevoBhavah”

“Dear @aamir_khan Presumed country has become #Intolerant. Wat do u suggest 2 millions of Indians? Leave India? Or wait till regime changes?”

“Dear @aamir_khan. #SatyamevaJayate u talked about evil practices but gave Hope. So even in ‘Intolerant’ times u need 2 spread Hope not Fear.”