However, with the senior BJP general secretary’s comments triggering widespread condemnation, the government was but forced to distance itself from the controversial comments in a bid to do damage control. A few of the freakish comments have been ridiculed by the masses, who took to the social media to express their disgust, thereby supporting SRK.
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Congress leader Rashid Alvi on Thursday dubbed the recent remarks by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders on Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan as “unfortunate”, saying such remarks exemplify the rising intolerance in the country.
“If there was any kind of intolerance in the country, he wouldn’t have been one of the top superstars in India”.
“People who want to malign image of a nation as tolerant and liberal as India, their act is nothing less than treason”.
“I condemn his comments outright”, said union minister and BJP leader Prakash Javadekar soon after, pointing out that Mr Vijayvargiya is not a BJP spokesperson and so does not speak for the party.
He also took a moment to slam writers who have returned their awards, saying, “Under the garb of secularism, a few writers and artists of leftist mindset have joined anti-national elements”. “Sickening remarks against @iamsrk by BJP national gen sec also in charge of Bengal”.
Adityanath said if Hindus stopped seeing Shah Rukh Khan’s movies, “he will be on the streets like an ordinary Muslim”.
“…I am saying these people are speaking in terrorists’ language”.
“If India was “intolerant” then Shah Rukh Khan wouldn’t function as the hottest actor in the nation after Amitabh Bachchan”.
He also added, “His (Adityanath) comments are incorrect and uncalled for”.
Salman added he was not “aware” of Shah Rukh’s remarks on intolerance and hence could not answer the question. Said Indian actor Raza Murad: “This country is not anyone’s personal property”.
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While many leading Bollywood celebrities including Vidya Balan have refused to return their awards, King Khan clarified that he is not against the idea. He should be punished for this. I think there is no difference between the language of Shah Rukh Khan and Hafiz Saeed… How can he become a “Pakistani” when his family fought for the freedom of this country?
