It's ironic. Aamir Khan has stirred up the clouds of intolerance and really been proved right in his assessment of the rampant intolerance in India. Now, a professed friend of Khan's is jumping on his back about the comments he has made. Indian Union Urban Development Minister, Venkaiah Neidu, said in a speech before the 6th Bharatiya Chattra Sansad (Indian Students Parliament), organised by MIT College, that he considered Aamir Khan a friend, but he hurt his country and offended a great many people, himself included.
The Indian Express carried the story and had this, "Stating that the actor is a friend, Naidu said, 'However, the way he said things has hurt me and also hurt the nation in my opinion.' Raising questions over the validity of the debate itself, Naidu asked what is intolerance? 'Is not accepting a prime minister who got massive majority intolerance or not respecting other sentiments intolerance?' he said." These are the type of inane arguments that Aamir Khan has had to deal with since he made public a conversation he and his wife had about not feeling safe in India and worrying about their childrens' future.
What is lost in this whole affair is Aamir was responding to his wife's concerns. He should be commended for voicing his concerns as a patriot and husband looking after his family. If members of the Indian government and Prime Minister Modi cannot see that Aamir Khan has a deep concern for his country, then their discernment should be in question.
Judge for yourself. As Aamir Khan described how his wife, Kiran Rao, begins to comtemplate whether they should even remain in India, for the sake of their children, from the BBC, "It is disastrous and a big statement for Kiran to make to me. She fears for her child, what the atmosphere around us will be, she feels scared to open the newspaper every day. There is a growing sense of disquiet, and despondency. You feel depressed, you feel low. Why is this happening?"
While there has been criticism from officials, who may fear the downside of highlighting India's cultural struggles, many have come out in Aamir's support; and as many will point out, having this issue brought to fore for discussion is the first step in understanding, and hopefully eradicating, intolerance in a nation that has brought the world some of its most renown peacemakers.
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