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Intolerance Debate 2015: Who is under the radar?

The most talked about and debated topic of 2015 was intolerance, so much so that the country seemed to have been divided into two camps over the debate.

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The government that takes over regime of a particular country comes with a specific mindset and would want to run the country according to their plan. However, that may or may not go well with others in the country. The most talked about and debated topic this year was intolerance, so much so that the country seemed to have been divided into two camps over the debate.

Let's have a look at some of the statements and personalities that created controversies over intolerance: 

Aamir Khan

"As an individual, as part of this country, as a citizen, we read in the papers what is happening, we see it on the news and certainly, I have been alarmed. I can't deny. I have been alarmed by a number of incidents. When I chat with Kiran at home, she says 'Should we move out of India?' That's a disastrous and big statement for Kiran to make. She fears for her child. She fears about what the atmosphere around us will be. She feels scared to open the newspapers every day. That does indicate that there is this sense of growing disquiet, there is growing despondency apart from alarm. You feel why this is happening, you feel low. That sense does exist in me," said Aamir Khan at Ramnath Goenka awards, supporting people returning the awards.

However, what followed was angry mob taking onto social media to criticise his comments, calling him a traitor, people uninstalling Snapdeal app from their phones, his colleagues condemning/supporting him and the ruling members taking potshots at him. 

While the media covered the incident for a week his comment snowballed into a controversy. Aamir had to finally clarify his stand, saying that his comment was misunderstood.

Shah Rukh Khan

Accepting that there is intolerance in the country, King Khan had earlier said, "There is intolerance, there is extreme intolerance… there is, I think… there is growing intolerance." Speaking at a press conference on his 50th birthday, he said that he would return a national award, if he had one, like other artists and filmmakers. He also went on to add, "It is stupid… It is stupid to be intolerant and this is our biggest issue, not just an issue… Religious intolerance and not being secular in this country is the worst kind of crime that you can do as a patriot."

But, so tolerant that our country is, SRK was termed as a Pakistani agent, compared to terrorist Hafiz Saeed by politicians and asked to leave the country. He too had to clarify his stand, however right wing extremist protested trying to stall the release of his movie Dilwale, released in December. Though in the wake of release, he took a U-turn and claimed that there was no intolerance in India.

Amitabh Bachchan

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The less talked about, debated and controversial comment came from Senior Bachchan when he said that Indian cinema had fostered communal harmony when, "cultures are being questioned and prejudices against communities are dividing the world". He said, "The Indian cinema from its beginning has taught us the lessons of finding love, justice and social unity. And most importantly the banishment of communal prejudices and hatred,"  at the 21st Kolkata International Film Festival.

Anupam Kher

Anupam Kher was rather confused when it comes to intolerance, from leading #MarchforIndia and criticising Aamir Khan for his statement, he seemed to have believed that there is no intolerance in the country. But, when it came to Shah Rukh Khan, though he believed that intolerance debate was hyped for no reason, he supported SRK and went against BJP.

Barack Obama

On his visit to India during Republic Day, Barack Obama is his parting statement said, "Every person has the right to practise his faith without any persecution, fear or discrimination. India will succeed so long as it is not splintered on religious lines. Your Article 25 says all people are equally entitled to the freedom of conscience and have the right to freely profess, practise and propagate religion. In both our countries, in all countries, upholding freedom of religion is the utmost responsibility of the government, but also the responsibility of every person."

What was speculated was that this statement of his was targeted towards ruling BJP, which was later refuted by White House. However, after a day, he made references to Mahatma Gandhi's teachings and claimed, "Michelle and I returned from India - an incredible, beautiful country, full of magnificent diversity - but a place where, in past years, religious faiths of all types have, on occasion, been targeted by other peoples of faith, simply due to their heritage and their beliefs - acts of intolerance that would have shocked Gandhiji, the person who helped to liberate that nation."

Sundar Pichai

Sundar Pichai, the Indian-American CEO of Google, before his visit to India wrote an essay titled 'Let's not let fear defeat our values'. Though he was referring to Donald Trump's comments on Muslim, he made his stand for tolerance clear, "And it’s not just about opportunity. The open-mindedness, tolerance, and acceptance of new Americans is one of the country’s greatest strengths and most defining characteristics. And that is no coincidence — America, after all, was and is a country of immigrants. That is why it’s so disheartening to see the intolerant discourse playing out in the news these days — statements that our country would be a better place without the voices, ideas and the contributions of certain groups of people, based solely on where they come from, or their religion."

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