Congress slams Anupam Kher for planning counter tolerance march

The Congress party on Thursday lashed out at Anupam Kher for planning to lead a tolerance debate march to the Rashtrapati Bhawan, saying the veteran actor should introspect if he has right to speak for the artists when he is wearing the 'spectacles of a particular political party'.

"If you wear spectacles of a particular political party then you should introspect whether you have the right to speak for the artists and people associated with culture," Congress leader Manish Tewari told ANI.

"Unfortunately if you have completely subscribed yourself in a world view and cannot see the obvious, then you should introspect if you can speak for a community. Well, you can always speak for yourself," he added.

Kher, who had criticised the filmmakers returning their awards to protest "rising intolerance" in the country, is set to lead a tolerance debate march to the President's house on November 7 to counter it.

The announcement came two days after Congress president Sonia Gandhi led a protest march against the 'rising intolerance in the country' to the Rashtrapati Bhawan and submitted a memorandum to President Pranab Mukherjee.

Meanwhile, Tewari also expressed his disappointment over Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev's remark that Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan should return the money earned after receiving the prestigious Padma Shri award.

"What have we come down to, even Ramdev speaks about artists of India who have won acclaim and honour across the world. Whether it is Mehdi Hassan, Ghulam Ali or Jagjit Singh, Pankaj Udhas, Shivkumar Batalvi, all of them are a part of the common heritage and traditions. If we try and divide them then we do so at our own peril," he said.