Veteran Bollywood scriptwriter Salim Khan feels government must address concerns of artists returning their awards. Speaking with Sugandha Indulkar, Khan discussed filmmakers parting with prizes, genuine concerns versus attempts to provoke – and Arun Shourie versus PM Modi:

What is your view on filmmakers returning their awards?

I think the government should address this squarely – the authorities have to accept there is a problem and solve it through dialogue. Matters can’t be shoved under the carpet now.

Those returning awards too should write to the government first. They shouldn’t just return awards randomly. In a democracy, dissent can be expressed through newspapers, news channels or by writing to the government.

At the same time, if some people want to express their dissent by returning their awards, they’re free to do so. These are intelligent, well-educated people. They don’t have a petty or cheap agenda. They’re unhappy and expressing their angst – the people in power now have to find solutions.

Critics suggest returning a National Award is wrong as the nation bestows this – what’s your perspective?

It is not easy to return an award any awardee receives after years. They’re throwing away their own merit to express their frustration.

They’re not trying to insult anyone – they’re expressing their view non-violently.

Some suggest this is a manufactured protest – with a clear political purpose.

What purpose could so many different people from so many different fields have?

Their purpose is clear – they’re unhappy with things and they’ve chosen this way of expressing their angst.

Government will have to address this matter.

What is to blame for heightened tensions?

Well, these incidents have nothing to do with PM Narendra Modi – he is not a communal person at all. He totally disapproves of whatever is happening from either side, Hindus or Muslims.

But in 2014’s elections, many people won only because of the Modi wave. A few people have no formal education, no knowledge of parliamentary work and very narrow viewpoints. They don’t know what democracy means. They started acts of barbarism.

Sensible Muslims understand there are such people in all communities – but we were disturbed by the silence of other sensible people in Parliament who did nothing in the face of such uncivilised behaviour.

Modi has a bigger world view – he too was disturbed by these things. His ‘Sabka saath, sabka vikas’ is commendable. He has several schemes for uplifting Muslims including improving madrassa education. A movement i’ve named ‘Taalim ki taaqat’ has begun.

These things take time to materialise – but they’re working.

Arun Shourie has been very critical of Modi.

Narendra Modi is a personal friend – and Modi is not communal. I wonder if Arun Shourie would have said the same things if he was holding an important ministry in the current government.

But why is communal friction recurring?

It’s caused purposely by certain segments, sometimes by throwing meat outside places of worship.

Also, what Rashid Engineer did in J&K, giving a beef party, knowing beef consumption has been banned, was totally uncalled for. I condemn Engineer’s actions. It was sheer provocation to instigate the masses. I have no sympathy towards him.

I’ve written against provocation by Muslims. There’s no place better than India for any minority – i’d like to ask any Muslim if they’d like to live in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran or Iraq? They’d surely answer in the negative.

If this is the only country you want to live in, because you feel at home, then respect this nation, respect its culture, live in harmony.

What’s your view on secularism?

Till we live in denial, saying we’re secular and there are no problems, we will keep ignoring communalism.

It’s time to accept there are differences – they need to be resolved peacefully. Acceptance is the first step towards solving a problem.

Religion aside, FTII caused dissent too – is Gajendra Chauhan the right choice?

If a person is not wanted by the students for whom he’s expected to run an organisation, he should have the dignity and self-respect to leave – you can’t keep holding onto something which the people you’re associated with don’t want you to have.

It’s too demeaning.

Is Bollywood openly political now?

Bollywood’s always steered clear of political controversies. Our work is to entertain.

But today, the scene is changing, maybe because of social media where everyone freely expresses an opinion – and because that person happens to be a filmmaker or actor, mass media laps it up.