In the middle of a row over his remarks on rising intolerance in the country, Bollywood star Aamir Khan on Wednesday received support from Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh who advised the Centre to engage with the actor.
Meanwhile, a complaint on charges of sedition was registered against Mr. Khan at a local court in Kanpur for his comments on intolerance.
The actor on Monday joined the outcry against intolerance, saying he was “alarmed” by a number of incidences and his wife Kiran Rao even suggested that they should probably leave the country.
“Aamir Khan is such a big star, and well-respected, there must have been something that bothered him to make such statements. It is the Centre’s responsibility to call him and find out what’s bothering him,” Mr. Singh said.
The SP chief also supported Mr. Khan’s right to express his views. “Aamir has expressed his opinion. In India, everyone has the right to speak his heart. That is the best thing about Indian democracy...”
First hearing on December 1
A complaint against Mr. Khan was lodged at a Kanpur court by advocate Manoj Kumar Dixit, who said that the actor’s remarks on intolerance had created a sense of fear within the society and had the potential of causing unrest among communities.
Mr. Khan’s remarks could be misused to promote the message that India was an ‘insecure’ nation and did not protect its people, the lawyer said.
The case has been filed under various Sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 124 A (sedition) and 53A (promoting enmity between different groups on religious grounds).
The first hearing is scheduled for December 1.
Mr. Dixit had earlier filed a case against the actor for the posters of his blockbuster film PK citing nudity.
Even as Mr. Khan sought to clarify his remarks, he continued to face attacks from right-wing parties, in particular the BJP, whose members burned his effigy in Kanpur and shouted slogans against the actor.
‘Should have tried to discuss it with the PM’
President of Uttar Pradesh unit of the BJP Laxmikant Bajpai urged Mr. Khan to withdraw his remarks and directly approach Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a discussion on his grievances.
“If Aamir Khan or his wife were feeling any such thing, they should have tried to discuss the issue with the PM himself and not give such public statements and malign the country’s image,” Mr. Bajpai said.
