Aamir Khan, the 50-year-old actor turned politician, stands by his opinion about the intensifying intolerance in his country.
He has been wildly receiving criticisms about his comments concerning the "growing intolerance" in India. The actor has claimed though that he and his wife, Kiran Rao has no intention of leaving the country.
Khan mentioned that the rising intolerance is very alarming. His wife had already recommended leaving the country.
One of the BJP spokespersons, Sambit Patra said, "Aamir Khan is the face of 'Incredible India' [a TV campaign by Mr Khan to promote tourism], how can he make such a remark? I request Aamir Khan not to leave India and he won't find another nation like it".
After intense scrutiny from BJP officials and Bollywood colleagues, the actor posted this status on his Facebook page:
"Let me state categorically that neither I, nor my wife Kiran, have any intention of leaving the country. We never did, and nor would we like to in the future."
"Anyone implying the opposite has either not seen my interview or is deliberately trying to distort what I have said. India is my country, I love it, I feel fortunate for being born here, and this is where I am staying," Khan wrote.
BJP said in a statement that India should not be maligned as a country and the actor should not forget that the country made him famous.
Khan insists on his take over the matter. He said that the people who told him that he was "anti-national," make him sad because it just means that they are proving his point.
During a journalism awards ceremony, the actor said that there is an increasing "insecurity" and "fear" within India.
Recently, for the past few weeks, many have voiced out their concerns about the issue. Actors, writers and scientists have expressed the same sentiment.
The killings of rationalists MM Kalburgi and Govind Pansare and another man because of presumed beef consumption are just a few examples of the 'rising intolerance'.
