Proud Indian, won’t leave country: Aamir

Shiv Kumar

Tribune News Service

Mumbai, November 25

Actor Aamir Khan, under fire for his comments on intolerance, today issued a statement clarifying that neither he nor his wife Kiran Rao were planning to leave the country.

The actor, however, said he was standing by his interview at the Ramnath Goenka awards ceremony in New Delhi on Sunday.

“First, let me state categorically that neither I, nor my wife Kiran, have any intention of leaving the country. We never did, and nor would we like to in the future,” Aamir said in his statement.

He also hit out at those protesting outside his house and hurling abuses at him. “To the people shouting obscenities at me for speaking my heart out, it saddens me to say you are only proving my point,” he said.

“We have to protect what this beautiful and unique country of ours really stands for. We have to protect its integrity, diversity, inclusiveness, its many languages, its culture, its history, its tolerance, it’s concept of ekantavada, its love, sensitivity and its emotional strength,” he said.

Earlier in the day, the police detained people reportedly belonging to Hindu right wing organisations holding protests outside the actor’s house in suburban Mumbai.

Sena targets the star

Among those who attacked Aamir included the Shiv Sena whose mouthpiece Saamna called the actor a “self-appointed mullah”. “In recent past, some individuals have assumed the responsibility of judging whether India is a ‘tolerant’ or ‘intolerant’ nation… Aamir Khan has joined this business by becoming a self-appointed mullah, which is sad for those who love him,” the newspaper said. “We wonder where this ‘Idiot Ranchhoddas’ will finally go… Pakistan, Afghanistan, Paris, Brussels or Mali – make it clear…,” the editorial said.

The write-up also alleged Aamir had hurt “religious sentiments of Hindus in his movie PK”. “After filling up his coffers, he speaks nonsense in the name of freedom of speech,” Saamna said. The newspaper said he should leave behind every rupee earned in India and leave the country.

Shiv Sena leader and Maharashtra’s Environment Minister Ramdas Kadam joined in the chorus against Aamir and asked him to “go to Pakistan”. For good measure, Kadam called Aamir Khan, Shah Rukh Khan and veteran actor Dilip Kumar “snakes” living in India.

Snapdeal faces flak

The storm over Aamir’s remarks on intolerance also had its repercussions on e-tailer Snapdeal endorsed by the actor. After an orchestrated attack on the company where users were urged to delete its app from their mobiles, Snapdeal said it had nothing to do with Aamir’s statement.

“Snapdeal is neither connected nor plays a role in comments made by Aamir Khan in his personal capacity,” it said.