WHAT THEY SAY

Attacking Bollywood actor Aamir Khan, BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain on Tuesday said there was a “deep political conspiracy” by the Congress to defame the country by harping on an atmosphere of intolerance after Rahul Gandhi backed the actor's comments. “Where will Aamir and his family go other than India,” he wondered in response to the actor's remarks that his wife Kiran Rao had even suggested that they should probably leave the country.“There is no other better country like India and no better neighbour than a Hindu for an Indian Muslim. What is the situation in Muslim countries and Europe. There is intolerance everywhere,” Hussain, a national spokesperson of the BJP, told a press meet.“India is the most secular state where Muslims enjoy equal rights. In our country, an artist is not judged by his caste and religion but by his art,” he said.Hussain said if Aamir feels the situation is so bad in the country and that he is contemplating to leave, he should convince us. “We are ready to debate,” he added and wondered who is advising the actor. Hussain also took a swipe at the Congress vice president for coming out in support of Aamir Khan.“This shows Congress complicity in the campaign to malign the country. Congress cannot tolerate an elected government and a popular prime minister. When the country is progressing under the leadership of Narendra Modi, the Congress is creating an atmosphere to malign the country,” he charged.“Congress is responsible for the massacre of Sikhs and many communal riots. The party should not teach the country about tolerance and intolerance. Aamir should know that this is incredible India and 'Atulya Bharat' and one should not do anything to malign the image. Aamir had gained respect, fame and wealth due to the love and respect of all Indians. When you become a star your comments may get you headlines and good coverage but they are used against the country by the enemies,” he said.Further hitting out at the Congress vice president, Hussain said, "Rahul (Gandhi) says government should reach out to people to understand what's disturbing them. If his father late Rajiv Gandhi had done so, the Sikh massacre would not have taken place. Where is intolerance in India?"He said Aamir is the first person to have spoken about leaving the country and this is not right. It has to be condemned, he said.To a question on whether Aamir should listen to his wife and leave the country, Shahnawaz said BJP does not want to interfere in family matters.When asked if Aamir will be taken off the 'Incredible India' campaign, he said, "That's not the issue as of now."The BJP spokesman alleged that Congress leaders Mani Shankar Iyer and Salman Khurshid visit Pakistan and berate the Indian government."Another Congress leader Shakeel Ahmed chooses to highlight religion of some criminals. This is nothing but a dangerous trend to disturb the peace in the country. From opposing the BJP and the BJP government, the Opposition party is now against the country," he added. To a question on whether India should play cricket with Pakistan, he said, "The matter is between PCB and BCCI."Aamir Khan has been provided with adequate security, a senior police official said today. “We have provided adequate police security to the actor. There hasn't been any protest by anyone in the city or at Khan's house, but we have information that some outfits may hold a protest,” DCP (Detection) Dhananjay Kulkarni told PTI.Coming in support of Bollywood star Aamir Khan's remarks on intolerance, Congress today said what the actor is saying, the whole world is saying and asked the current dispensation to pay heed to the message. “What Aamir Khan, one of the most respected actor, has said in the presence of many senior BJP people is what the whole world is saying, all of India is saying, all right- minded people are saying,” Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said here. Taking a dig at BJP, Singhvi said Khan should not be branded as a Congress man for raising the intolerance issue. “I only hope and trust that he will not be referred to as a Congress man. I will only hope and trust he will not be referred to in derogatory terms,” the Rajya Sabha MP said. “These are the people whose conscience is speaking. Instead of criticising them, heed should be paid to the message, not shooting the messenger,” he added.Amid growing concerns on the issue of intolerance, Rahul Gandhi today said it would be better for the government to stop "bullying, threatening and abusing" and instead reach out to the people. "Instead of branding all those who question the Govt & Modiji- as unpatriotic, anti national or 'motivated' the Govt would do better to reach out to people to understand what's disturbing them". "That's the way to solve problems in India- not by bullying, threatening & abusing!", the Congress vice-president said.The Delhi police on Tuesday received a complaint against Aamir. The complainant, a resident of east Delhi's Vasundhra Enclave area, told the police that he “as a citizen of this country feels that the celebrities should think before speaking”. The complaint was addressed to the station house officer at New Ashok Nagar police station in east Delhi. "We have received the complaint and are looking into it. Further action will follow in accordance with law,” DCP (East) B S Gurjar said. The complainant told the police that actor Aamir should clarify which “society” he was talking about. “I also live in this society and I do not feel insecure and scared in my country. Aamir should not have mentioned it in a general way,” said the complainant.Now an actor has spoken fearlessly, will the BJP admit it was a manufactured charge that Bihar polls were why people were speaking up? Aamir spoke about difficult issues with ministers present in audience. He should be heard and not threatened for speaking truth to power Sitaram YechuryAamir, did you ask Kiran which country would she like to move out to? Did you tell her that this country has made you AAMIR KHAN. Did you tell Kiran that you have lived through more worse times in this country but you never thought of moving out?Some celebs complaining about Intolerance should be the last ones to complain because they became celebs in a so called intolerant country. Compared to any country India is the most tolerant and if some people are unhappy here also they should tell which country they will go to.“ Every word Aamir said is so true. I admire him for speaking up. BJP should stop silencing voices through abuses and threats.“Whatever he said was in a simple manner and what his wife told him. If people have issues and are afraid to live in India, the government should come forward and address those issues. Yes, the situation of the country has changed, it is not a political statementOpposition parties have closed ranks to target the government on range of issues from intolerance to rising prices as Winter Session begins on November 26. Parleys have been held among leaders of Opposition parties and Congress. JD-U in particular will be raising the issue of intolerance and award wapsi in a big way.“Now Assam Governor made derogatory remarks being on d Constitutional position shows d ruling Govt has not learnt lesson from defeat in Bihar.”“We will raise issues of love jihad to 'ghar vapsi' and increasing intolerance during d course of discussion on commitment towards Constitution,” JD-U president Sharad Yadav said. He also tweeted that his party will also raise the issue of reservation policy in the House alleging that it is not being implemented in the right spirit in the country.Besides, the JDU has decided to raise the issue of rise in prices of pulse, edible oils and vegetables under Rule 267 of suspension of business in the House.A special two-day sitting of Parliament has been called on the first two days of the session to commemorate the adoption of Indian Constitution on November 26, 1949, and honour its architect, dalit icon B R Ambedkar.Opposition parties believe that this serves them an opportunity to find fault with the government's handling of a number of issues in the light of the laid down Constitutional provisions. Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said,“We have already given notice for discussion on intolerance and it should be admitted under Rule 193. So we will discuss about the Constitution on the 125th anniversary. Other than this, we have given another notice on the subject.”“Whenever that is admitted, we will together discuss on this issue. Each of us want that there is tolerance in the country for peace and development and investment to come,” he said. JDU President Yadav said that all the issues from 'Ghar Wapasi', Dadri and other incidents of showing 'intolerance' in the last 18-months of this government will be raised. He said that his party will give a notice to discuss the 'intolerance' issue before Parliament. The assertions by the Opposition leaders have come on a day when top union ministers held deliberation over the government's strategy ahead of the Winter Session on Thursday with the Centre expressing hope that Congress will help passage of key reform bills, including GST. The government has called an all-party meeting on Wednesday morning.