Aamir Khan's comments on rising intolerance set Twitter ablaze

At least one user demanded that authorities take legal action against the actor

Film actor Aamir Khan on Monday joined the debate over the rising atmosphere of intolerance in the country and said his wife Kiran Rao had spoken to him about moving out of India, as she feared for their child due to the security environment prevailing in the country.

Khan, speaking at the Ramnath Goenka Awards function organised by The Indian Express, said, “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.”

 

Showing his support for writers and artists who have returned their awards in protest, Aamir said, “Returning awards was one way of getting your point across.” “I will endorse any protest that is non-violent,” he added.

The statements set Twitter ablaze as supporters and detractors poured in to comment on the matter. Members of the Bharatiya Janata Party also issued statements on Aamir's comments.

Times Now tweeted Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju as saying that Aamir has tarnished the country's image.

#AamirKhan's remark on leaving India tarnishes country's image: Kiren Rijiju, MoS, MHA #AamirIntoleranceTalk https://t.co/VDrnwQ1FHI

— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) November 24, 2015

News agency Press Trust of India tweeted BJP spokesperson Syed Shahnawaz Hussain's response to the comments. Hussain reminded Aamir that India had made him a star.
  

Don't forget India made you a star, says BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain on Aamir Khan's 'intolerance' remarks.

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 24, 2015

Anupam Kher, who has led a counter-protest against the ‘awards wapsi’ campaign and criticised claims of rising intolerance in the country, expressed what he thought about Aamir’s statements in a series of tweets. Kher also urged Aamir to spread hope instead of fear.

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.

— Anupam Kher (@AnupamPkher) November 23, 2015

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.

— Anupam Kher (@AnupamPkher) November 23, 2015

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

— Anupam Kher (@AnupamPkher) November 23, 2015

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

— Anupam Kher (@AnupamPkher) November 23, 2015

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

— Anupam Kher (@AnupamPkher) November 23, 2015

One Twitter user even called on the authorities to take legal action against Aamir. Lalit Patel tweeted that a ‘show cause notice’ should be issued against Aamir for defaming the country. 

I request to @HMOIndia to issue 'Show Cause Notice' to #AamirKhan about his statement defaming our Country. @PMOIndia @arunjaitley

— Lalit Patil (@lalitnikam7) November 24, 2015

Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi backed Aamir's remarks and urged the government to try and understand the issue instead of bullying and threatening.

Instead of branding all those who question the Govt & Modiji- as unpatriotic, anti national or 'motivated'(1/3)

— Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) November 24, 2015

The Govt would do better to reach out to people to understand what's disturbing them (2/3)

— Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) November 24, 2015

That's the way to solve problems in India- not by bullying, threatening & abusing! (3/3)

— Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) November 24, 2015

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal expressed his support for Aamir and tweeted that he admired him for speaking the truth. 

Every word that @aamir_khan said is so true. I admire him for speaking up

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) November 23, 2015

Here are some more reactions from twitter: 

Forthright but sensibly expressed comments by @aamir_khan on intolerance&responsibility of creative artists at Goenka Awards w/ @anantgoenka

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) November 23, 2015

Now that @aamir_khan also feels we are an #IntolerantNation. Let us now go all out and prove once for all that we are really intolerant.

— Ashoke Pandit (@ashokepandit) November 23, 2015

Intolerance !PK did rattle the belief of Hindus but Aamir dint face the wrath of Hindu or THE MAJORITY n but was super hit n made crores !

— Paresh Rawal (@SirPareshRawal) November 23, 2015

Maybe #AamirKhan only wanted to leave India to increase his chances of bumping into Modi.

— Ramesh Srivats (@rameshsrivats) November 24, 2015

aamir this intolerant country allowed you to marry two hindu women and beget three muslim children on them. #AamirKhan

— a hindu (@utkagn) November 24, 2015

What wrong did #AamirKhan say ?? Is anyone proud to be in a country where politicians care more about cows than women getting Raped. 1/2

— Gurwinder SEKHON (@gurwinder748) November 24, 2015

Sleeper cell @aamir_khan has been activated to attack India. #AamirKhan #JihadiAamir pic.twitter.com/HdtW2gUo77

— Naveen (@nav_nirvana) November 24, 2015

FYI Mr. #AamirKhan India is the most tolerant country in the world. There is no other country as tolerant as India. (See we tolerated you !)

— Gaurav Garg (@GauravGargIN) November 24, 2015

hate to say so - but whenever a celeb has the 'foot-in-the-mouth' disease they cover it up by talking about religions and ethics #AamirKhan

— Yojana Sharma (@yojana_sharma) November 24, 2015

#AamirKhan Martyred colonels wife wishes to send her kids to army while the stars wife is worried about her sons safety. Welcome to India!!

— Aashutosh Purohit (@aspurohit4977) November 24, 2015