Life & Style

Nobody has the right to call our country intolerant: Anupam Kher

Veteran actor claims 'award wapsi' campaign is an attempt to tarnish India's image

Entertainment Desk November 07, 2015

the actor claims that the intolerance debate is an attempt to tarnish india 039 s image photo amarujala

The actor claims that the intolerance debate is an attempt to tarnish India's image. PHOTO: AMARUJALA

Actor Anupam Kher is leading a march to the Rashtrapati Bhavan (official home of the President of India) today in New Delhi in a bid to counter protests by writers and artistes against "rising intolerance" in the country.

"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.

Is this tolerance?#Shameful pic.twitter.com/i1QzRMeS7J
— Ankit Lal 🏹 (@AnkitLal) November 7, 2015

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 (Modi Ka Parivar) (@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 (Hindu Bengali Refugee)🇮🇳 (@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

Wishing @AnupamPkher & patriots who are in d great march all d best! East or west, India is the best. #MarchForIndia pic.twitter.com/loljevRYq1
— Dr. Suvalagna Chandra (DBA, PGDM) (@SuvalagnaC) November 7, 2015

#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

COMMENTS (34)

Kickass | 8 years ago | Reply @Ch. Allah Daad: So you are a Anupam follower. Would you enlighten us about this "most vocal Anupam voice" about Peshawar tragedy? Because this is a "breaking news".

Kickass | 8 years ago | Reply @Hameed: This hits right in the belly. Well said Sir.

VIEW MORE COMMENTS

Kickass | 8 years ago | Reply Kher you are doing enough yourself. Nobody needs to contribute more.

SHAH | 8 years ago | Reply @Hameed: Soon, very soon all will see HAIR growing on this Hindu's head and face.. He is a disguised HINDU TALIBAN in HINDUS-TAN;

JSM | 8 years ago | Reply With Modi, Pakistan is again feeling the heat. Last time it happened was in 1971 courtesy Indira Gandhi.

Secular Hindu | 8 years ago | Reply Agree with Kher that no one call India is intolerant. His protest against any one calling India intolerant is justified and v all support, if this was agenda. How ever Kher and others who stand by him are known to Supporters of Right Wing Hindus, hence all justification for protest is under cloud. Kher and crowd would have been applauded if they had protested against Killings of people with whom Right Wing Hindu fanatics dissent. Such Intolerance and Takking Law in ones own hand is condemnable, not to be supported. Writers, film makers , scientists who returned awards against such Killings. Kher was missing and was in mute mode when Killings happened. Suddenly woke up, when Silent majority protested peacefully against Killings by returning Awards. Such misguided thinking of Kher speaks of Double Standards and Doubtful credibility. India is Tolerant because we Hindus are Secular, except fringe elements.

Vectra | 8 years ago | Reply @kala singh: dream on, congress will now not get to power for may be next10 year atleast.They are secular only by name only but actually a worst divider.They were the one who were responsible for division of "Great Akhand Bharat"into different parts.

kala singh | 8 years ago | Reply Bring back congress I party! Long live congress party the only secular party of India!

Pakistani | 8 years ago | Reply This is so funny.Even a plant can tell that after Modis election India has become less tolerant.

gooddeedsLeadTo | 8 years ago | Reply To not allow others to call you intolerant for showing intolerance to someone violated, is by itself intolerance by contradiction.

Raj - USA | 8 years ago | Reply By overdoing, the pseudo secularists have lost even the little they may have gained in the beginning. The tide has turned against them. The next major debate that is going to be is if secularism compatible with personal laws for anyone in the country, be they hindu or muslim or having special status for Kashmir. Support for Uniform Civil Code and removal of Article 370 will grow. BTW, I do not support the beef ban or alcohol ban in Gujarat and these should be removed also. I do not support targeting Pakistani actors and artists also and this should also stop.

Hameed | 8 years ago | Reply @MarchForIndia:

its called freedom of speech, how talibans knows about freedom of speech

Anup is Hinduvta Taliban denying others freedom of speech if he disagrees with them. Anup and Taliban are obviously of the same mindset.

Hameed | 8 years ago | Reply @MarchForIndia:

its called freedom of speech,

Then how come he is not letting this right of freedom to speech to others to call India intolerant if they think so? Seems HIndutavs only want freedom of speech, to throw paint and to kill all for themselves.

ali | 8 years ago | Reply @Khan The intolerance in India will be much worse and bigger than of Pakistan in 1980s. Its from Indians not from Indian government.

Ahmed | 8 years ago | Reply Seems like Indians don't have a lot of rights.

An Indian | 8 years ago | Reply Anupam Kher - A real patriot and true son of Mother India. The support shown for 'March for India' both offline and online shows most of India firmly stands behind PM Modi and his government. Now pseudo seculars and anti-nationals should come up with more innovative ways of derailing India.

Mudassir | 8 years ago | Reply Intolerance at its best and look what a joke it is.

Vectra | 8 years ago | Reply It is disgusting to see these Veterans by threatening to return the awards and writers by returning the awards they have disrespected the Nation who has awarded them for their service to the society and nation as a whole.If these people can't uphold the dignity of their awards then GOI should also toughen its stand and henceforth no awards should be given to the returnees for their gross disrespect. Protest is every body's right no doubt about it but this is not the way to protest.If writers would have protested intolerance through their writings instead of returning awards then that would have real merit.Where are these guys all these years since 1947???? Were they sleeping all these decades that they are suddenly awakening up now up to intolerance??. Intolerance are there from the very beginning and in every nations in this world in some form or the other.In western nations like France,UK,Australia etc intolerance are there in the form of Islamophobia,Americas in the form of Blacks and Whites leading to gun killings in schools etc,China in the form of ethnic and non ethnic Chinese,Entire South Asia in the form of religion and caste system,Middle East in the form of severe division between Shias and Sunnis etc.So Intolerance is everywhere then why these writers are selective in their approach and trying to indulge in political games???.Those who don't respect the awards don't deserve to be awarded.Time for GOI to act against these people and have some new rules on award givings.

echoboom | 8 years ago | Reply Narendar Modi is the best friend that Muslims and Pakistan ever had..He has uncoiled in open the seismic hatred and venomous rancor that has been nursed and nurtured by Gandhi. Gandhi put muslims to sleep, Modi has awakened them. Still time the secularoons, liberaloons and murtadoons to correct the direction in whichthey prostrate to worship.

sabi | 8 years ago | Reply And India government succumbs to this tiny intolerant class.Who is weak the government of India or secular liberal class.

MarchForIndia | 8 years ago | Reply @Hameed: hahahha ur lies have no value

MarchForIndia | 8 years ago | Reply @Hameed: its called freedom of speech, how talibans knows about freedom of speech.... for that you have to live in real democracy like india

MarchForIndia | 8 years ago | Reply @Khan: seems pak is scared of hindutva.... panic starts from other side of the border

Hameed | 8 years ago | Reply

@ndtv's female reporter gheraoed and harangued during #MarchForIndia.

Here is some more tolerance from Hinduvta clowns.

Vectra | 8 years ago | Reply "#MarchForIndia trends number 2 worldwide" This actually shows that writers and congress are in minority and have no support from majority both withing nation as well as Indians residing world wide.A big slap to congress and the award returnee writers.

Hameed | 8 years ago | Reply @Nil:

I support Anupam Sir.

I support eating cows.

Ch. Allah Daad | 8 years ago | Reply Mr. Anupam Kher is a very brave person. He stoop up for victims of Peshawar School massacre and perhaps his voice against terrorists was strongest in whole region. Pakistanis also stood up for victims of Mumbai terrorist attack and shed tears for innocents. There is no doubt that majority of people on both sides of border are tolerant, loving and friendly. The problem is that small minority has hijacked sentiments and made big majority irrelevant and useless.

Skywalker | 8 years ago | Reply @Hameed: That is true. He is intolerant of the people who are calling India intolerant. He drew the line there.

appan | 8 years ago | Reply Of course utterances of some of the BJP goons are condemnable. We all know that the most of the so called intellectuals are against Modi and hence push the story of "intolerance" as if that nothing of this kind ever happened in the past. In fact worst had happened and we suffered and endured and marched ahead. One of the members of this "Intolerance Brigade" Nayantara Sehgal (Nehru's niece) was silent when her own tribe (Pandits) was driven out of Kashmir. Let us "praise" her for tolerance!! Most of her brigade members are either leftists or congress supporters. So no wonder why are they so "agitated"

Karachiite | 8 years ago | Reply mother of all ironies! I LOL'd when i read the title :D

zhyusuf | 8 years ago | Reply Whether India is intolerant or is not intolerant, anyone can see.

Hameed | 8 years ago | Reply

Nobody has the right

That's intolerance right there.

Nil | 8 years ago | Reply I support Anupam Sir.

Khan | 8 years ago | Reply A part of me hopes hindutva and hindu chauvanism will spread in india. Intolerance will destroy their society from within just like pakistan in the 1980s. India's draw in the world is its supposed tolerance. The rise of these groups is making the world reassess it's opinion of india. So let's sit back and enjoy watching india destroy her own self and her image.

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