NEW DELHI: Actor Aamir Khan, joining the debate on a perceived "rise in intolerance", has shared that he felt "alarmed" by a number of incidents and that his wife Kiran Rao even suggested that they should leave the country.
The ruling BJP calls the comments "alarmist" and unfair.
Speaking at the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism awards on Monday, Aamir Khan 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 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."
The comments come at a time incidents like attacks on rationalists, a mob killing over beef-eating rumours and controversial statements by members of the ruling BJP or allied groups have been held up by rival political parties and a section of the civil society as instances of intolerance under the current regime. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also faced questions during his recent trip to Britain.
Mr Khan said it was important for political parties to take a stand. "The sense of insecurity grows when we don't see that happening," he said, also supporting scientists, writers and filmmakers who have returned their awards to register their protest.
BJP spokesperson Nalin Kohli said Aamir Khan is entitled to his view but India is a tolerant nation. "You can't take the exception to be the rule. You can't be alarmist over stray incidents. Let us not define our country based on that," he said.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had earlier tweeted in support of the actor, saying: "BJP should stop silencing voices through abuses and threats. It's high time that Central government took concrete steps to instil sense of security amongst people."
The ruling BJP calls the comments "alarmist" and unfair.
Speaking at the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism awards on Monday, Aamir Khan 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 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."
The comments come at a time incidents like attacks on rationalists, a mob killing over beef-eating rumours and controversial statements by members of the ruling BJP or allied groups have been held up by rival political parties and a section of the civil society as instances of intolerance under the current regime. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also faced questions during his recent trip to Britain.Mr Khan said it was important for political parties to take a stand. "The sense of insecurity grows when we don't see that happening," he said, also supporting scientists, writers and filmmakers who have returned their awards to register their protest.
BJP spokesperson Nalin Kohli said Aamir Khan is entitled to his view but India is a tolerant nation. "You can't take the exception to be the rule. You can't be alarmist over stray incidents. Let us not define our country based on that," he said.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had earlier tweeted in support of the actor, saying: "BJP should stop silencing voices through abuses and threats. It's high time that Central government took concrete steps to instil sense of security amongst people."
