"Nobody has the right to call our country intolerant. We are secular people and don't believe in selective outrage. Speak about your problems rather than returning awards," he said this morning after launching the #MarchforIndia movement, reported NDTV.
Kher also alleged that the "award-wapsi" campaign was defaming the country by projecting a "wrong" picture of the situation.
Film-makers protest intolerance in India
PHOTO: INDIAN EXPRESS"India is a very tolerant country. Some people have coined the term 'growing intolerance'. They are very few. Not every Indian thinks like that. We are secular people. We do not believe in pseudo-secularism, selective outrage or selective patriotism," Kher, who is the spouse of BJP MP from Chandigarh Kirron Kher, told reporters.
Kher urged his followers on Twitter to join him:
Patriotism gives us a feeling of self worth. Join us on this historical day at National Museum, Janpath at 10am.:) #MarchForIndia
— Anupam Kher (@AnupamPKher) November 7, 2015
According to NDTV, the actor claimed that the intolerance debate is an attempt to tarnish India's image and intended to target the Narendra Modi-led government.
"I have the right to go to the President and say that we don't feel India is intolerant. These talks can't happen only on Twitter/ Facebook, they need a personal presence," the actor has said.
We had a Great meeting with Hon. President of India Sh. Pranab Mukherjee. He said 'Awards are given by Nation not by Govts.':)#MarchForIndia
— Anupam Kher (@AnupamPKher) November 7, 2015
A tide of intolerance
He was joined by a string of artistes, writers and painters, including Madhur Bhandarkar, Narendra Kohli, Ronu Majumdar, Chandraprakash Diwedi, Priyadarshan among others.
Many questioned the actor's motives and Twitter was soon flooded with tweets -- some for the march and some against:
And Anupam Kher deserves a kela lifetime achievement award for his best off screen performance . no sorry .. he did for media #MarchForIndia
— Mahendra Singh Dhoni (@ChoopaRustam) November 7, 2015
A protest is to show India as intolerant is 'secular'. Another protest to say India is tolerant is 'fascist'? Nice. #MarchForIndia
— Abhijit Majumder (@abhijitmajumder) November 7, 2015
.@ndtv's female reporter gheraoed and harangued during #MarchForIndia.
— Ankit Lal (@AnkitLal) November 7, 2015
Is this tolerance?#Shameful pic.twitter.com/i1QzRMeS7J
In their hate for Modi, some dragged the entire nation through so much muck that people had to organise #MarchForIndia. What a shame
— Abhijit Majumder (@abhijitmajumder) November 7, 2015
Feeling proud to be a part of #MarchForIndia with @DrGPradhan @RituRathaur @DrShobha @sunil_choudhry @MahikaInfra pic.twitter.com/3Fc2PNPqjz
— Ravi Bhadoria (@ravibhadoria) November 7, 2015
I met all of Twitter at #MarchForIndia :) The huge crowd in Delhi was totally spontaneous. Shows how #AwardWapsi has recoiled.
— Kanchan Gupta 🇮🇳 (@KanchanGupta) November 7, 2015
Happy to be a part of #MarchForIndia .here are few pics #Bengaluru .Thanks to Kannada actors who led the march pic.twitter.com/6nVqOVtI9R
— Dr Jwala Gurunath (@DrJwalaG) November 7, 2015
https://twitter.com/DrunkVinodMehta/status/662895746153222144
https://twitter.com/SuvalagnaC/status/662891583969226752
#MarchForIndia trends number 2 worldwide, Msg is loud n clear "Indians stand united against anti national elements" pic.twitter.com/TtlPDVe67C
— Jainil Khandelwal (@jainilk) November 7, 2015
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