Security was beefed up outside Bollywood actor Aamir Khan's residence today after his recent remarks on growing intolerance stirred a controversy.
Aamir's remark drew mixed reactions from leaders across political parties.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rejected Aamir's remark and accused him of trying to instil fear among citizens.
"We out rightly reject Aamir Khan's statement. Aamir Khan is not afraid but is trying to scare (people). Aamir Khan gives a statement and Rahul Gandhi supports. Rahul Gandhi's statement makes it clear that a conspiracy to tarnish nation's image is going on," BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain said.
Meanwhile, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi voiced his support for the actor and lashed out at the BJP-led NDA Government for not handling the problems confronting the nation in the 'right way'.
Speaking at the eighth edition of the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards, Aamir had yesterday expressed alarm and despondency over the rise in cases displaying intolerance in the last six to eight months.
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He had said that a sense a sense of 'insecurity' and 'fear' had seeped deep within society.
"When I go home and talk to Kiran (Aamir's wife), for the first time she says, 'Should we move out of India?'" Khan said.