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.

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.
  

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.

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. 

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






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

Here are some more reactions from twitter: