The Congress on Tuesday backed actor Aamir Khan’s right to express his feelings. “I think he has raised a crucial issue and the government should be thankful to him for that,” party spokesman Shakeel Ahmad said.
Aamir said on Monday that he was alarmed at the rise in intolerance in the country over the past six to eight months.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Sitaram Yechury lauded the actor’s courage to speak out.
“Every word that Aamir Khan said is so true. I admire him for speaking up,” Mr. Kejriwal tweeted.
“Aamir Khan spoke about difficult issues with Ministers present in the audience. He should be heard and not threatened for speaking the truth,” Mr. Yechury said in a series of tweets.
The Union government responded to Mr. Khan, saying the statement was made “under someone else’s influence.” Minister of State for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said “the country has given him [Aamir Khan] so much love and respect. I am sure he said it in a hurry or maybe under influence of others.”
“Tolerance is in the DNA of this country. Neither is he going anywhere nor will we let him go,” he added.
