Indians lash out at Aamir Khan for statement on intolerance

Does this prove that India is, in fact, intolerant?

Bollywood actor Aamir Khan has attracted immense attention after disclosing that his wife suggested they leave India following cases of religious intolerance in the country.

Wife suggested we leave India: Aamir Khan

Soon enough, #AamirKhan hit top trends on Twitter and hostile comments from Bollywood and enraged fans surfaced.

Actor Anupam Kher, who has been vocal about his stance on 'intolerance in India', was the first from tinsel town to lash out at the actor:

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

Veteran actor Rishi Kapoor had a few words of advice for Aamir:

Mr.&Mrs. Amir Khan. When things are going wrong and the system needs correction,repair it,mend it.Don't run away from it. That is Heroism!

— Rishi Kapoor (@chintskap) November 24, 2015

Former actress Raveena Tandon was also furious, but chose not to name or tag anyone in her tweets, though it was fairly clear who she was referring to:

Fringe elements were always there,1can always say thats condemnable,action needs to be taken against them,but to spread paranoia?not done

— Raveena Tandon (@TandonRaveena) November 24, 2015

Wonder why they didn't feel fear when bombs ripped the heart of mumbai.. Or our security was breached #26/11-gosh!no point same argument

— Raveena Tandon (@TandonRaveena) November 24, 2015

Let's cut the BS-why can't these people openly say that they weren't happy since d day Modi became PM..instead of shaming the whole country

— Raveena Tandon (@TandonRaveena) November 24, 2015

Really-have the guts to say it openly,instead of dragging the whole country's image down,I don't have a problem with any form of protest..

— Raveena Tandon (@TandonRaveena) November 24, 2015

https://twitter.com/TandonRaveena/status/669053692998389760
Singer Abhijeet compared his wife to Aamir's:
https://twitter.com/abhijeetsinger/status/669036452655837184
However, renowned Indian journalist Barkha Dutt stood by Aamir:

achcha chalo ab @aamir_khan ko bhi Pakistani jaane ko keh do? Those outspoken comments at #RNGAwards likely to have many in a twist !

— barkha dutt (@BDUTT) November 23, 2015

Whereas Bigg Biss Season 4 winner has chosen to ban Aamir Khan:
https://twitter.com/imshwetatiwari/status/669055567927771136
The Jazbaa director knows better than to preach freedom of speech:

#AamirKhan
Moral of the story - Do not speak your mind in public, be diplomatic & keep smiling.
Else face the wrath of the twitter brigade.

— Sanjay Gupta (@_SanjayGupta) November 24, 2015

THOSE ACCUSING AAMIR KHAN OF BEING INTOLERANT PL HAVE DA TOLERANCE TO WATCH DA WHOLE INTERVIEW.

NOWHERE DOES HE SAY HE WANTS TO LEAVE INDIA

— Sanjay Gupta (@_SanjayGupta) November 24, 2015

I never said India is intolerant: Shah Rukh Khan

Fans were a little unforgiving:

I love @Amir_officiel the actor, I don't know Amir Khan the person, I distrust the Amir Khan the activist.

— Mahesh Jagga (@MaheshJagga) November 23, 2015

https://twitter.com/Leg_Peace/status/669079054411173888
https://twitter.com/AskAnshul/status/669067620776185856

Why are some "secular" Indians so insincere or blind?#AamirKhan pls name one country more tolerant than #India towards huge diversity

— Maria Wirth (@mariawirth1) November 24, 2015

Dear @aamir_khan its India which had made you what you're today, just don't forget it before giving statements or hate speeches. #AamirKhan

— Abhimanyyu Tyagi 🇮🇳 (@Abhiemanyu) November 23, 2015

This Nation can survive without #AamirKhan,in fact it can Boom&Bloom better without him but he can not survive without grace of #MotherIndia

— Dr Garekar (@DrGarekar) November 24, 2015

#AamirKhan
I am ready to sponsor your ticket. Just name the country and I will be happy to kick you out..

— Ashish Sharma (@ashishkumar510) November 24, 2015

Dear @snapdeal, no purchases from your website until you remove @aamir_khan as brand ambassador; uninstalling your app

— Suresh Nakhua 🇮🇳 (@SureshNakhua) November 23, 2015

Martyr soldier's wife says children will join army while #AamirKhan 's wife worried abt kids safety!! Real heroes???

— Kalyani Oswal 🔱 (@K_Oswal) November 23, 2015

And then there were others who were all for Aamir's argument:

#AamirKhan raises concerns about India becoming increasingly intolerant. Bhakts fall over one another on Twitter to prove him right! #irony

— Seema Goswami (@seemagoswami) November 23, 2015

Amazing & thoughtful comments on #Intolerance by #AamirKhan in conversation with @anantgoenka ! #RGAwards worth every minute

— dilip cherian (@DILIPtheCHERIAN) November 23, 2015

#AamirKhan did not say all this,his wife a Hindu, said it.Imagine the situation if even she is feeling insecure-Azam Khan

— ANI (@ANI) November 24, 2015

Both superstars @iamsrk & @aamir_khan are also thinking men. Artists, poets and writers represent the conscience of a society.Pay attention!

— Raza Ahmad Rumi (@Razarumi) November 24, 2015

What #AamirKhan basically says is that within India, he feels like PK

— Madhavan Narayanan (@madversity) November 24, 2015

Director Anurag Kashyap too shared his views on the matter: “Intolerance has always been there. We don’t have freedom of expression. It is something we have to live with, do our own bit, fight and refuse to participate. I hope it silences," he was quoted as saying by the Indian Express.

We don’t deserve Shah Rukh Khan, says renowned Indian journalist

India’s ruling party BJP also reacted, terming Aamir’s statement unfair. ”We won’t let Aamir leave the country, he is safe. This kind of comment influenced by a politically motivated campaign insults those who have given so much honour to Aamir in India,” said Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, the Minister of State for Minority Affairs.

Earlier another Bollywood superstar, Shah Rukh Khan, came under fire when he said there was growing intolerance in India.

“It is stupid… It is stupid to be intolerant and this is our biggest issue, not just an issue… Religious intolerance and not being secular in this country is the worst kind of crime that you can do as a patriot,” he had said.