NEW DELHI--Days after Shah Rukh Khan spoke against intolerance, actor Aamir Khan joined the chorus of intelligentsia, saying he has been "alarmed" by a number of incidences and his wife Kiran Rao even suggested that they should probably leave the country.
While speaking at the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards, he said, "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."
Also Read: Shah Rukh Khan: There Is Growing Intolerance In The Country
Khan also virtually supported those returning their awards, saying one of the ways for creative people to express their dissatisfaction or disappointment is to return their awards.
The actor said he also feels that the sense of insecurity and fear has been growing in the past six or eight months.
"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.
Also Read: 'Why I Am Returning My Award'
"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," 50-year-old Aamir said.
Taking potshots at politicians, he said "... 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."
Also Read: Arun Jaitley Denies That There Is Growing Intolerance In India
Asked to respond on why he doesn’t think it’s right to link terror with Islam when Paris attackers were seen holding the Quran, the actor said, “A person killing with the Quran in his hand might think he is Muslim, but he is not. He’s just a terrorist.”
“When you see a person committing violence, the first mistake we make is labeling them Islamic terrorist/Hindu terrorist. This is wrong,” he added.
Also Read: Kamal Haasan Won't Return His National Award But Stands Against Intolerance
Khan also reminded that the Censor board is actually a "certification board which decides the age of those who can watch a movie". However, on a lighter note, the actor maintained that as long as he get to kiss at the shoot, he is not concerned what the Censor board does after that.
Naturally Khan's comments led to quite an outburst of tweets, led by Delhi's Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who wholeheartedly supported the 'Lagaan' actor:
And, some asked him why he didn't realise there was intolerance before.
There were quite a few heated/ sarcastic responses too:
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While speaking at the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards, he said, "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."
Also Read: Shah Rukh Khan: There Is Growing Intolerance In The Country
Khan also virtually supported those returning their awards, saying one of the ways for creative people to express their dissatisfaction or disappointment is to return their awards.
The actor said he also feels that the sense of insecurity and fear has been growing in the past six or eight months.
"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.
Also Read: 'Why I Am Returning My Award'
"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," 50-year-old Aamir said.
Taking potshots at politicians, he said "... 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."
Also Read: Arun Jaitley Denies That There Is Growing Intolerance In India
Asked to respond on why he doesn’t think it’s right to link terror with Islam when Paris attackers were seen holding the Quran, the actor said, “A person killing with the Quran in his hand might think he is Muslim, but he is not. He’s just a terrorist.”
“When you see a person committing violence, the first mistake we make is labeling them Islamic terrorist/Hindu terrorist. This is wrong,” he added.
Also Read: Kamal Haasan Won't Return His National Award But Stands Against Intolerance
Khan also reminded that the Censor board is actually a "certification board which decides the age of those who can watch a movie". However, on a lighter note, the actor maintained that as long as he get to kiss at the shoot, he is not concerned what the Censor board does after that.
Naturally Khan's comments led to quite an outburst of tweets, led by Delhi's Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who wholeheartedly supported the 'Lagaan' actor:
Every word that @aamir_khan said is so true. I admire him for speaking up
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) November 23, 2015And, some asked him why he didn't realise there was intolerance before.
Dear @aamir_khan you showed So many issues with Congress Rule..Yaar tab yaad nai aya..Intolerance.. https://t.co/c2T1slE8RI
— Intolerant Indian (@ROFL_India) November 23, 2015There were quite a few heated/ sarcastic responses too:
Which country should Aamir Khan go to?
— Ra_Bies (@Ra_Bies) November 23, 2015@abpnewstv @aamir_khan dear cittizens pl don't watch aamir khan movie. It will be true respect to our country
— Ramaprasad Panda (@RamaprasadPanda) November 23, 2015Maybe Aamir Khan would be happier in a country where he can stone a devil daily.. When's the next available flight? pic.twitter.com/3sYGqiq1ri
— Kiran Kumar S (@KiranKS) November 23, 2015@abpnewstv @aamir_khan dear amir please leave country asap. Rather than spoiling our nation pls get out , do as ur wife say
— kuldeep sharma (@CoooldeepSharma) November 23, 2015Aamir Khan's wife Kiran Rao is the latest addition to the list of 'Elite-Secular-Tolerant-Liberals-Yet-Victims' -(#SRK #ArundhatiRoy et al)
— Nikhil Sapre (@Nikhil_s147) November 23, 2015What a slap to this great actor in real life @aamir_khan https://t.co/NnAUTO3Dml
— OfficeOfKppradeepdr (@kppradeepdr) November 23, 2015
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— Prit kanungo (@KanungoPrit) November 23, 2015Also See On HuffPost: