Nov 07: Bollywood actor Anupam Kher today led a march to the Rashtrapati Bhavan to counter the protests by writers, artistes and others against “rising intolerance”,voicing concern over the “wrong projection” of India by those returning their awards.
The protest was a counter protest against a host of writers, scientists, historians and filmmakers who have raised their voices against what they call “rising intolerance” under the BJP-led government, and have returned various government awards and honours.
Kher, director Madhur Bhandarkar and painter Vasudev Kamath were among 11 members who handed over a memorandum to President Pranab Mukherjee.
The memorandum is signed by 90personalities, including Kamal Haasan, Shekhar Kapur, Vidya Balan, Raveena Tandon and Vivek Oberoi besides, authors, former judges and musicians.
“Any brutal killing is condemnable. We strongly condemn it and expect swift justice. But if it is used by some people to attempt to defame India at the international platform, then we should be worried,” Kher said while reading out their letterto the President.
The actor said the protests, which began with writers returning their Sahitya Akademi awards, shows that rather thanaddressing their concerns through their respective fields, these people are using media to “hurt the spirit of India”.
Taking a dig at Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, Mr Kher said, “The leader that opposition party is trying to project does not inspire me. He reads out from prepared statements. Our former PM also used to do the same. The passion with which PM Modi talks about India at international platforms, no other PM has ever done that. No other PM has also visited Kashmir so many times. So, why shouldn’t I respect him?”
Kher said no one has the right to call India intolerantand there is no country in the world, which is more tolerantthan India.
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